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Babu saroj created new article My remarkable train journey .
Having supped for the night I scaled to my upper berth. The whole day was spent in hectic preparations. Being tired through and through I fell asleep. At around midnight when I alighted from the berth to go to the lavatory, I saw that the train touched off Lucknow.
A faint hubbub that reached me through my sleep indicated that it was some sort of a pandemonium. It was small hours of the morning. I jumped from my berth and saw that the centre of the confusion was some three cubicles away. In the process of getting down at Aligarh a small sleeping child had fallen down from the upper berth. The helpers were busy with the girl. I leaned forward to see the injury, as I always carry with me a first-aid box. But meanwhile my attention stuck at a queer object. It was hidden from view. I had a clear apprehension that it was some lethal object. It might be a bomb, I thought. I decided to be cautious. The least mention of it will spread a panic. In the hurry and confusion it may be disastrous.
In the NCC I had learnt as to how one should behave in such situations. I quickly brought my aid-box and dressed the child’s injury. Instead of speaking aloud I whispered my suspicion into the ears of an elderly person. Quietly the passengers of the spot got down. A boy brought in the conductor guard and through him the train was detained.
But the silent activities could not last not long enough. The matter surfaced and the typical Indian confusion ensued. I got involved in the whole operations. I rushed to the GRP who might have trained staff, for everyone is not competent to handle such dangerous things.
A usual hurly-burly set in and I was completely taken in by the situation. The experts came and confirmed it to be a bomb by means of their detection devices. The entire compartment was evacuated and the passengers safely landed on the platform. The bomb was defused and brought down.
I had to accompany the expert body to their office to endorse a report. They said that I deserved and award also for this good service.
Naturally I got stuck up at their office to complete sundry entries and signatures. Meanwhile the bogy was detached for the train.
The entire event lasted for more than two hours and I was involved into the whole affair up to the neck. Naturally I had little time or breathing space to think about myself. When I came out of the GRP office and came to my senses, I began to hear a repeated announcement. It appealed to the passengers of the affected compartment. A separate bogie was being attached. The loudspeaker hauntingly repeated the bogie number.
I woke up to my senses and was about to rush to the station master. But I found a co-passenger carrying my suitcase. I felt to be lucky, but suddenly remembered that my small bag carrying my documents and a certificate was missing. But by then the bogie was in the siding and untraceable. I was going to attend an interview. I lodged a complaint with the GRP and obtained this certificate. It was a big loss, no doubt.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article Islamic Pakistan and Alcohol Manufacture.
The state of Pakistan was the dream of the poet Iqbal, who visualized a homeland for Muslims of the sub-continent. That's the reason he used the word "Pak" meaning "pure" in Urdu, as the name of the new nation. Pakistan had a tortuous birth as an Islamic state and the country soon, despite the dream of Jinnah for a secular state, adopted Islam as its state religion. But despite being a Muslim state, Pakistan could not shake off the vestiges of pluralism and liberalism, which they had learnt from the English, who were the rulers of the sub -continent.
In my visit to Pakistan about 3 years back, I visited the famous battlefield at Chillianwala and also the Sikh gurudwaras. I also interacted with a lot of Muslim officers of the PAF, both at Rawalpindi and Karachi. I was surprised that whiskey was freely available and on inquiry my host told me that he would give me a taste of whiskey manufactured in Pakistan. This was a surprise , but I had a couple of drinks of Murree Single Malt whiskey from Pakistan and was impressed with the taste. The name of the alcohol brewed in Pakistan goes by the name of "Murree", which is the name of a hill station in Pakistan and earlier had the brewery located there. The brewery suffered a fire in 1940 and shifted to the foothills, but the name Murree has remained. It's a distinctive trade mark.
Islam, as we all know is completely against alcohol. It is banned in their scriptures. But in Pakistan alcohol is manufactured and that too in large quantities. Pakistan is the only Muslim nation in the world that has an alcohol manufacturing and brewing plant.
The brewery at Murree has a checkered history that can be traced back to 1856 and that is almost a century and half back. At that time general Dyer who was commanding the troops in Punjab decided to have a local brewery to manufacture beer and rum for the English troops. The brewery came up in 1860 at the hill station at Murree. This place was chosen for its salubrious climate.The initial manufacture was guided by experts from Scotland.
The Brewery was a success and production increased. In 1900, a Parsi family settled in Punjab bought the brewery from the English owner. The Bhandara family took over the brewery and expanded it further. The company went public and in 1906, its shares were listed on the Calcutta stock exchange. After the creation of Pakistan, the shares were delisted from the Calcutta Stock exchange and listed at the Karachi stock exchange. For the last almost 70 years the shares of the company have performed consistently well over the national average.
Till the time of Bhutto, there was no prohibition in Pakistan, but with a view to cement his base Bhutto enforced prohibition in Pakistan. this was in 1977. He thought that by this act, the hard line Islamists would rally around him. Bhutto however had seriously miscalculated and he was overthrown in a military coup by general Zia-ul-Haq and subsequently hanged as a common criminal. The sad part is that those who ride the tiger are eaten by the tiger.
The brewery went into tough times, but it was revived by Zia-ul-Haq. He called Bhandara and announced that he would introduce a permit system and people with valid permits could buy alcohol. No permit was needed by the non Muslims who could buy liquor freely.
The brewery now expanded and the new MD, Minoo Bhandara made an ambitious plans. The Pakistan government allowed him to import the latest machinery and alcohol manufacturing equipment. Experts from Scotland and Germany also arrived. All this was done without publicity, but alcohol manufacture got a fillip. The brewery launched many new products and many of them are served in the bars at Mumbai.
The brewery is now one of the biggest in Asia and Minoo Bhandara is also planning to launch his products in India with a manufacturing unit at Bangalore. As far as Pakistan is concerned, the road is only forward and the company has over half a million liters of alcohol stored in its cellars in casks.
The brewery manufactures at least 6 varieties of beer and and a dozen brands of whiskey, gin and rum. these products are at par with the best in the world. Their best product is the Muree Single Malt whiskey which is 20 years old and I have doused myself with it and found it extremely smooth and classy.
The Pakistan government has outlets for Murree products in all five star hotels and select shopping arcades. Indiscriminate sale is however not allowed, but its not difficult to get a permit and buy whatever you want to drink. Bars in five star hotels also serve these drinks.
9 years ago
Jincy Aby created new article Benefits of Baby Massage.
A soft touch is more powerful than thousand words. Therefore, it is very important for human being like food. We cannot see anybody in this world who never expect to get a loving touch from others. A good massage can remove all tensions and worries from us. That is the power of massage. Massaging is very important for babies for their overall development.
Massaging plays an important role in the life of a baby. Following are some of the benefits of massaging if we do it for babies.
1. It makes digestion easy for babies.
2. Get relief from body pain.
3. Give strength to their bodies.
4. Increase their body weight.
5. Get relief from stomach pain, gastric problems and colic.
6. Increase their immunity power.
7. Give them good sleep.
8. Stimulate the growth of bones, muscles and brain.
Massaging is the best way to develop the spiritual relationship between mother and child. Mothers should fondle their babies while massaging. They also should talk something to their babies by looking at their eyes. If mothers can repeat this process daily when massaging, it will increase the attachment of babies with their mothers. Some women have depression after they deliver their babies. Baby massaging is the best solution to get rid of this disease. Not only for mothers, can fathers of babies also participate in baby massaging. Then, they get an opportunity to help their wives. More than that, this is a golden chance for fathers to converse with their babies through a soft and loving touch. This is the best way to make a healthy relationship with your child.
What we listen when we do baby massage:-
When you do massaging, look at the eyes of the babies and talk to them. Make sure that they do not have any irritation while massaging. Never massage your babies immediately after giving food. If their stomach is full, do not massage on their stomach because it will make irritation to them. Avoid massaging when the baby is in sleepy mood. Do not try to massage your babies when they are tired after a long journey. Massage your babies forty-five minutes after taking food.
9 years ago
ABSIVAKUMAR created new article Nurturing the finer aspects of human nature.
Not so long ago, Chennai was devastated with huge floods. The entire city came to a standstill and the estimated loss due to the non-working four days of havoc, ran into an estimated one lakh thousand crores.
Yet, the human spirit that rose up to the occasion, with huge help flowing from all over the country and abroad, was something that seemed to be unheard of.
The question that arises is this: can we institutionalize such voluntary efforts, by offering some organized platforms, so that such good work gets done, even in normal times.
The answer to the aforesaid question will always be in the affirmative. All that we need to do is to make certain efforts and help the movements attain a certain momentum, so that they become very concrete in terms of their foundations, at any point in time.
The first area of concern that comes to one's mind is to have an apex voluntary organization, which can be managed by persons of absolute integrity, and where funds obtained are uploaded on the website, along with expenses of any sort. This apex organization can guide various voluntary organizations in taking up meaningful social work. For example, even today, there are several slums in urban cities that depend totally on tankers for their drinking water needs. If only some good tankers are installed in such places, the people can easily get their drinking water needs satisfied. Help in the form of college fees or even books for the really poor but bright students can also be organized, so that there is a big movement, There are several hundreds of IT professionals who would be happy to donate to such noble causes and what is really needed is a big organized effort.
Let us join together and make this organized effort possible.
The second area of concern that is really worthy of consideration is to make continuous efforts to educate people on the need for public hygiene. The people deserve a far better ecosystem for public hygiene. However, nothing can be done, without the help of people. This is exactly where the voluntary organizations can help. For example, these organizations can engage in massive campaigns to keep public spaces clean.
Some efforts, for example, have been made to keep the superb Marina beach in Chennai, clean. However. whatever be the efforts, the public does not cooperate and things are back to square one.
In places where women have to work and get back to work, the safety and security of such women is becoming a matter of great concern. The police can enlist the support of volunteers from each area to give vital information on rowdy elements or men who are inclined to physically disturb women. Such volunteers can also help the police to keep a big watch over sensitive points at any time after 8PM, to enable girls and young women to reach their homes safely.
Some thought needs to be given to make this idea work, but such a thought should be very comprehensive in nature.
The third area where voluntary help can really play a big role is the support that can be extended to train the youth belonging to weaker sections and economically weaker sections, is the training of such youth in highly job-oriented or self-employment oriented trades such as motor mechanic, the electricians, TV mechanics, plumbing and so on. There is the National Skill Initiative of the Government of India, but this is highly urban centered. It has still not entered the small towns and the areas that are not serviced by formal training institutions. It is such areas that need to be taken care of, through voluntary organizations.
For instance, the self-help groups of Tamil Nadu, have been effectively able to engage a huge number of women in self employment, and a huge number of these run profitable ventures in terms of small hotels. Similarly, it is very much possible to make these groups take up training in other trades like basket making, toy making and so on. Most of these trades are highly profitable and a huge amount of revenue can indeed come to the hands of such groups, if voluntary groups chip in the required support and technical expertise.
The fourth area where the voluntary movement can help in a big way is to network with other organizations in the field in environmental protection. Some work is being in this regard, but such work is not sufficient to sustain the momentum required. For instance, tree planting of a tall order can indeed be taken up as a very big alternative in several areas.
The fifth area of voluntary movement is to make the public conscious about their human rights and about the dangers posed by fringe groups that are keen on dividing the nation, in the name of religion. The public needs to be very much aware of such dangers and should come out more openly in the public. This is not happening at all, and the communal parties are going ahead with their agenda with gay abandon.
The sixth area of voluntary involvement is to reduce the amount of corruption that has now become unmanageable. It is becoming very clear that corruption is eating into the very fabric of the society. It is making the poor, poorer day after day.
IT solutions are very much possible, and the IT professionals should network with the Government agencies to minimize corruption wherever possible, but the help of voluntary groups is vital.
The formalization of voluntary groups could happen through citizen committees that could be formed in every area covering one lakh people in the cities. Let these groups be managed by persons of high integrity, such as retired judges, the police officials, the environmental experts, lawyers, doctors, engineers and social workers. Such groups can also network with Government agencies at all levels, to ensure effective implementation of social welfare schemes.
The scope is enormous, but the "how" will depend on the availability of various resources and the need for intervention in specific cases.
We need to nature the finer aspects of human nature through voluntary help. This is an urgent priority.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article The cause of unhappiness in life is greed .
The most obvious stand is to write against greed. Greed is a recognized vice and it is born of an excess desire for something. It may be of power, wealth, ambition, name, fame, and what not. It brings in its wake tension and unhappiness. But apart from these there are one or two kinds of desires which cannot be summarily rejected as bad. It is what we might term as an excess of desire to be nobly great. We shall discuss this exception to the rule at the end.
The basis of greed is desire but all desires are not greed. To be desire less is to be dull and inactive. Only when our desires are based on base selfish motives, we call it greed. Then we are not satisfied with the fulfilment of our needs. But want to have much more than our needs. We develop a desire to grab and the more we grab the more we become selfish and pound. This passion or excessive desire to have more is greed. A man then becomes shameless and pitiless. He spares none to achieve his end. We can cite some celebrities in whom this greed reached its worst form.
History presents the worst example of greed of power in Hitler. He wished to be the supreme ruler of the world through the foulest method. A similar example of greed of wealth today is Harshad Mehta, of ambition and power Saddam Hussain.
There is a famous proverb, greed begets sin and sin is the cause of death. The above examples bear out the truth of the proverb. Even in normal life greed cause unhappiness, because this fell desire is a suicidal passion. It never rests until its target is achieved. It sets the mind on to invent foul methods. The greed of wealth tempts him to cheat others and to steal. The greed of power tempts him to show his might on the weak and the innocent. It is a proven truth that the greedy fulfil their desires by exploiting the weak, the poor and innocent. He is always afraid of the strong and the alert person. For the latter may resist.
Unwary lays the head that wears a crown. Too much op power or wealth steals away peace of mind. The man is always afraid of robbers and rivals of power. The opposite of greed is contentment. The latter is a spiritual asset for any man. The man remains at rest with himself. But greed multiplies like wild fire. The greedy man cannot afford to rein his desires. Naturally he always remains at the mercy of his dangerous desires. He remains mentally restless and, like a boulder down a hill, goes down committing sin after sin. What can be a more unhappy state that this?
It is now conclusively proved that merely an excess of desire is not greed. A man can suffer from an excess of noble desire. Milton suffered from an ardent desire to write a great epic. Similarly great leaders nurse vehement desires to rise in life. But they do not fall into the category of greed, because these are nourished by healthy and noble intentions. These give strength to the spiritual man, whereas greed generally flatters his material ambition. Therefore have I called greed a full-passion?
9 years ago
Bajirao created new article Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Teenagers .
Drug addiction and alcohol abuse in teenagers are very common all around the world. According to the statistics, there is an increasing use of illicit drugs, around 3 millions are drug addicts. Drug addiction is major problems for many communities and families in India. Cannabis, heroin, hashish and opium are commonly abused drugs. Due to financial costs, lack of availability of services and lack of appropriate care large number of drug addicts are left untreated in India. Hence this has given rise and increased the number of HIV cases in India. Over 2.4 million people are infected with HIV due to drug abuse.
Binge drinking or drinking too much of alcohol is very commonly seen in teenagers. Teenagers are more attracted towards alcohol as they have been always refrained from drinking alcohol until certain age (21 year). Most of them start drinking before the legal age of drinking. Either due to peer pressure or Adrenalin rush to do something new, they are more prone towards alcoholism. Alcohol is not bad for the health however excess drinking of alcohol for longer time is poisonous to the body as it can damage the physical and mental health both.
Some teens try the drugs and alcohol for sometime and then they stop as they are aware about its negative effect on their body, career and life. However some cannot control their urges which leads to alcohol and drug abuse.
Some reasons for alcohol and drug abuse in teenagers
Peer pressure and to fit into the circle - During adolescence stage, teenagers try to figure out what they want to do in their life, most of them are not aware what is right thing to do and what's wrong. Peer pressure, or pressure from their colleagues is very important part in every adolescents life. Some teenagers are way ahead of time and they have tried all kinds of drugs and alcohol by this time. These teenagers pressurize the younger kids to use the drugs and convince them to use it if they want to be a 'cool kid'. Every teenager wants to be a 'cool kid', kid who is in demand. Due to this pressure, many teenagers fall into the trap of drug use. Some of them get out of it easily while some get more and more trapped, with no easy way to get out.
Parents using themselves - Teens are more likely to get involved into drug and alcohol use if their parents are actively involved into these. These children have been seeing their parents all the time using drugs and alcohol hence they tend to use it, also the drugs are easily accessible for these teenagers if parents tend to keep the substances open. Teens assume that if their parents are using the drugs and drinking the alcohol, that means it is not at all bad for the health as well, hence teens are more enticed to use drugs and alcohol.
Unable to cope with mental stress - Many teens have been suffering from mental stress and depression either due to study stress, family problems, personal issues with opposite sex or medical issues making them more vulnerable towards drug and alcohol abuse. Such kids instead of talking to their parents and solving the problem, they decide to take the help of drugs as it keeps them happier and make them forget their problems for time being.
Curiosity to try something new and different - Adolescence is a stage where many new things are introduced into the life. Legal age for drinking alcohol is 21, till then teenagers are not allowed to drink alcohol. This restriction make them more desirable towards it. Being curious in nature, and desire to know how it feels like to get drunk or high, tend them to break all the laws and start drinking earlier than required. If there is no close supervision of parents on their children, then the occasional drinking leads to frequent use and abuse of drugs and alcohol.
To enjoy and have fun - Teenagers are in such a stage where they are growing but with less responsibility. During this stage of life, only aim is to enjoy and have fun with life. Drinking has been all the time easy way to socialize with people and make new friends. Teenagers try drinking alcohol and getting high by using drugs only to socialize with the friends.
What to do if your kid is using alcohol and drugs?
Talk to your kid - Try to openly talk to your kid about these issues. Do not use harsh words or any kind of violence to make your kid speak the truth. Instead politely speak with your kid, assure him/her that you will help to solve the issue. At this point of time, your child don't need a lecture from you, but needs you to understand the problem. Hence talk directly and explain your child how vulnerable and easily influenced teens are at this age.
Ask for help from doctors or specialists - If your kid is already addicted to drugs and alcohol, do not hesitate to ask for help from doctors. Many parents avoid disclosing this issue to anyone, even to doctors as parents has fear of being socially stigmatized. But if parents don't tell the truth, doctors cannot help the child in anyway and medical treatment becomes necessary if child is completely addicted to drugs and alcohol.
How to prevent drug and alcohol use and abuse?
Speak with your kid about substance use and abuse way early than teenage life. Explain them the hazardous effects of these substances on human body, and make them believe that use of these substances are not going to make their life good. You being parent, be open minded, don't hesitate to talk to your kid about it. They are going to know about it from somewhere, they why don't you only start it, that way at least they would be able to make the difference what is right for them and what is wrong.
Involve your child with some activities like outdoor or indoor activities so that they don't get enough ideal time to think about other things. This way they also learn to make use of their time for something good and meaningful.
Know your child's friends. Invite the friends at home so that you would be able to understand them better. Make sure your child's friends are not involved into drugs and alcohol use.
Keep close supervision on your child especially if you are a working parent. Make sure you ask your child about their problems in school and try to solve them.
Give them some space as well. Let them do the way they want, don't always mingle in their life. There should be balance between this. Keep close supervision, but don't show that you are restricting them anyway.
Don't use drugs and excess alcohol in the presence of your child. Parents as well need to stop the use of these substances themselves if they want their child to not get involved and ruin their life. Be like a role model for your child.
Role of parents are very important in every child's life. The values and morals are learned from parents, so teach your child to be morally good person. Most of the parents avoid speaking with their kids as they think its not a right time to talk about it. But talking and expressing your views is the only way to teach the right path to your child. Take a step ahead and talk to your child, let your child learn from you than learning from their 'peers'.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article The thrill of my life .
The term ‘thrill’ includes a mixture of adventure, fear and joy. My experience was of such a nature and in a way unique of its kind.
Our school football team was a notable one. It won many trophies and much reputation. There was only one trophy which it could not lift. It always made up to the final. But the fixture of the tournament used to be prepared in such a fashion that the local team made it to the final. Whatever the team on the opposite side, the local team retained the trophy by hook or by crook.
This time, too, we were in the finals to face the usual opponent. We decided to lift the trophy this time, by fair means or foul. It was a very thrilling experience.
It may be comically termed ‘operation trophy’. We scored a goal in the first half and another in the second half. No less than two other goals were wrongfully given ‘offside’. It became evident that it was a case of committed refereeing. Two penalties were awarded to the opposite side. But our sturdy goalkeeper stood both the penalty kicks. Then the other side ran berserk and injured one of our players.
Hardly fifteen minutes were left when the attention of the crowd in one corner of the field was diverted to a noisy quarrel. It happened to be the side where the trophy and cups were displayed. Unexpectedly our left winger sent the ball out of play on the far side of the field. The noise continued and a short spell was spent to recover the ball. Suddenly the left-winger Mithilesh charged and lifted the main trophy. He was a terrible fast runner. Some others gave him cover. The authorities were at a loss to get a hang of the things for some minutes. Ours, however, was a planned move. The jeep was parked under cover of a big hedge at the most obscure corner of the locality. The trophy, Mithilesh and a couple of players that could be managed were despatched on the jeep that was idling. The escape route was the thinner side of the crowd. The rest of us hid ourselves in an abandoned old and dilapidated/ruined temple. We were six who could be recognized for their jerseys. But it being winter the light had thickened. From the noise outside it became clear that the chase, too, was given up.
We decided to leave by the evening train. But we knew that even that would be searched. Our term manager, Sarvanida, was also a party to our plan. He was a master trickster. He brought out six kits of yellow vests and yellow shorts. We changed into them, smeared on our face yellow dust posing to be pilgrims for Baba-dham (Baidyanath Dham). Sarvanida trained us to chant’ BOL-BOM’ and gave us the ‘danda’ (staff) and the small pitchers.
We spread over the whole train as it was not advisable to move in a group. Our talk or careless remark might raise suspicion. We saw some of the known persons searching us. It was an impossible feat.
We reached home at night. Next morning the adventure was celebrated. Our Headmaster stood by us when the tournament authorities came to complain. He denied that any such trophy was brought to the school.
We recounted for long in future the thrill and risk of the deed. But nothing succeeds like success.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article The "Orgy": A Philosophical Analysis.
The first thing is to understand as to what is an Orgy. It is defined in the dictionary as wild and drunken revelry where guests engage in unrestrained sex. It also is defined as a sexual act with drink where 3 or more persons are involved. The word is derived from the Latin word Orgia and appears to be part of ancient history.
All cults and religious groups have accepted Orgy as a part of their philosophy. The ancient Greeks and Romans laid special stress on it and had vivid and colorful rituals that were supposed to give divine guidance. The advent of Christianity saw the Orgy being regarded as "evil". The act did not die away, but only it was attributed to the Devil.
Hinduism is an enigma and though the word orgy is not used, yet practically it was accepted by Hinduism and forms a part of Tantra sex. This is enunciated in what is known as a Puja session in Tantra when men and women congregate in a circle with men changing places, while women remain seated. One is free to indulge in close and carnal contact and is supposed to bring great benefit to the planet and the participants. There is however a subtle difference as unlike the ancient concept of drink and revelry, in Hindu Tantra philosophy, wine and drink are not taken.
I attended my first orgy in Russia as a young subaltern. I say first as I had only one other experience and that was in the Ashram of Rajneesh. Even Swami Shraddhanand conducted such tantric rituals and though I was his follower, I never was part of these rituals.
On my umpteen visits to Russia, I had my only experience of a orgy, when my Russian girl friend suggested it. I was intrigued and went. In all there were 3 couples and we made the fourth. Was it satisfying? No, I am afraid not, I perhaps never got over my inhibitions after some time just went to sleep. I realized that an orgy cannot be 'staged' and needs a deeper spiritual connotation.
The Greeks and even earlier the Jews considered an Orgy an essential part or ritual of their life. No taboo was attached to it. There is an excellent scene of an orgy filmed in the movie " Solomon and Sheba" that starred Gina Lolobrigida and Yul Brynner. One can download the movie from the net and watch it.
My next encounter was when I was posted to Lohegaon, the airbase at Pune. Air Force orders at that time forbade membership of cults and groups. I was unaware of this order and so visited this ashram. I also once met Rajneesh in Bombay. In due course I attended one of his meditation sessions in a room with about a dozen participants. Here the atmosphere was electric and I felt magic was in the air. Out of the 6/7 women 2 were Indian. I can say the session lasted about 3/4 hours with meditation and unrestrained cohabitation. It was the most elevating experience of my life and I can only say that it was an experience to remember. I never went again as my CO, who came to know about it forbade it. So that was the end of my essay with the ashram. Later when was commanding the heli-unit at Mumbai, I used to attend the ashram of Swami Shraddhanand at Bassein Road close to Bombay, but though aware of his tantric rituals never attended his sessions.
A look back at history and one can see that an Orgy has been part of man's life since ages. It certainly had a sexual connotation, but the overall aim of these sexual orgies was to connect with the divine. Though later Christianity turned a puritan leaf, the fact of sexual energy and its connection with the divine is something that needs deep study. It is an advanced state of the mind, a realm above the thinking of an average human being. It is only Hinduism with its concept of tantra and path to salvation and enlightenment that accepted this concept. Islam also accepts this, but in a more earthy way, by bringing in a practical aspect.
What are the arguments against an orgy? Firstly it cannot be practiced by the masses as people are by and large so weighted down with mundane problems that such a philosophy remains restricted. Obviously it is practiced only by the affluent and people who can spare some time. as all such activities are time consuming. But this does not detract from its benefits, if carried out under the guidance of a guru and the aim is not just sensual pleasure. In my first encounter, it was just sensual plasure that took me to an orgy, but the episode with Acharya Rajneesh ashram was elevating and believe me, I felt close to the supernatural.
One fact does stand out that even during ancient times Orgies were conducted only at night and were by invitation only. Common people were not invited to it. Perhaps there is a mystery about it. Even now in England orgies do take place, but they are secretive affairs. The most celebrated orgies were conducted by Dr Ward in the early fifties in England. They were secret affairs and certainly did not follow the philosophy as enunciated in the Tantra. This was wrong and Dr. ward was arrested, though on a different matter. In India, the Aghori clan still indulges in such orgies as they pray to Kaal Bhairav, the fierce manifestation of Shiva.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article The greatest sense of fulfilment of real happiness .
Happiness is a kind of joy; it is a state of the mind. There are many kinds of happiness. A child becomes happy when he/she gets a toy. A scientist becomes happy when he discovers his desired object. Similarly a poet or a writer becomes happy when he is able to put across his feeling or his ideas to his readers.
From the above account it becomes clear that happiness is a kind of mental satisfaction. Now the question is what its constituents are.
Firstly, the basic constituent of happiness is desire or want. A passive mind that does not react or respond to life’s experience feels no happiness either. The opposite of happiness is sorrow. Even sorrow is a constituent of happiness. It may sound like a paradox. But those who experience sorrows in life also have desire. They are not colourless like the passive soul.
The second important constituent is intelligence. A dull person can never be happy in life. A dull child shall only cry for something it likes. But an intelligent one shall use his weapons or instruments of shouting, crying innocent craft to please others to obtain his object.
Intelligence is a chief constituent of the mind and happiness is doubtless a state of the mind. It is never an attribute of the senses. The senses give us pleasure. We are pleased to enjoy, but when we are happy the object becomes a thing of the mind. The sweet smell of the rose please our olfactory sense, but when we enjoy it, it becomes a thing of the mind, and then we feel happy even when we do not smell it. John Keats said, ’A thing of beauty is a joy for ever’. The joy here is that of the mind. It is a kind of happiness.
It should, however, be borne in mind that real happiness springs from noble desires and intentions. Human intelligence can work both ways. A thief or a cheat also can obtain his desired object by applying his intelligence. But that brings in its wake a kind of tension for the mind. But a noble or innocent desire being achieved, it brings to the mind quiet and healthy satisfaction. It is a kind of contentment that is true or real happiness.
Thus the third constituent of ‘real happiness’ is purity of desire or pursuit. Here the epithet ‘real’; implies lasting and durable.
Spiritual happiness is also a kind of joy of the super mind. It is concerned with something that is on a higher plane than mere intelligence.
Lastly, to conclude, the real index of happiness is order, not chaos. Its chief function is to bring order to a disturbed mind. The beauty of a ‘happy’ soul is a fine balance in which it lives. It prevents the revolt of the senses and keeps them in perfect harmony. It is noticeable in all the categories of human being, whether it is in politics, art, literature or social reforms. It shall be a vain effort to seek it in pride, love of wealth or ambition. The latter are pleasures of the senses, whereas real happiness is a virtue of the mind.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article The Royal Navy Base at Scapa Flow in Scotland.
When I was in service I had the opportunity to visit the UK. I had never been to Scotland and when a friend, a RAF officer suggested we visit Scapa Flow a Royal Naval base of great importance in Scotland during the two world wars, I accepted. We reached the base and stayed two days at the Officers Mess of the RN. The base is no longer having the importance it once had, but it remains a historical entity. One can locate the sunken warships and also see the coastal batteries now old and not in use.
The base was developed in the early part of the 20th century. It is a natural harbor and its importance lies in the fact that it had outlets to both the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. Within a short time the base became very important and a great part of the Royal Navy Fleet was anchored at this base.The basic aim of Scapa Flow was to counter the German Navy which was growing in strength under the Emperor Wilhelm Kaiser. The German high Sea fleet was aware of this base and had plans to destroy it with submarines.
It is recorded that the Scapa Flow naval base was the safest of the Royal Navy's bases. No submarine could penetrate inside the protected area of the harbor, due to a system of undersea steel nets. A few which tried got entangled and were sunk. Due to the heavy defenses, it was not possible for a surface ship to approach the base. The Coastal guns can still be seen, mute spectators to a past era. Only one ship was ever lost in the harbor and that was not due to enemy action, but an internal explosion. The battleship HMS Vanguard exploded and sank taking with 845 sailors to a watery grave.
The base covers a massive area of over a 100 square miles. it is a sobering thought now to realize that the base was home to over 150 warships of the Royal Navy including 30 Dreadnaughts. Now let me tell readers that during World war I, the Dreadnaught was the most lethal of the heavy warships.
Scapa Flow made history as the Royal Navy Fleet of nearly a 150 war ships sailed out to confront the German fleet in the famous battle of Jutland. This is the biggest surface naval battle in the history of naval warfare. The German fleet had close to 99 ships. In numbers the British fleet was bigger, but the Germans had precision gunners and both fleets confronted each other in the icy waters of the North Sea. In a battle spread over days both sides claimed victory, but the British lost more ships than the German fleet. But the important point is that the German fleet could not break the stranglehold of the British fleet and had to retreat back to German ports.
After the end of World war I, the Treaty of Versailles( 1919) was signed. As per the terms of this treaty 74 warships of the German fleet were captued by the English and they brought them to Scapa Flow. The commander of the German Flotilla was Admiral Von Reutor. He took a far reaching decision along with his senior commanders. This was an act of great secrecy and the Royal Navy were not aware of it. When the British fleet was out for an exercise, Von Reutor gave the order to scuttle the German warships. The aim was to deny use of the ships to the Royal Navy. He was successful and he was able to scuttle 52 ships, which sank in the harbor.
Once the scuttling process started, Royal Navy seamen armed with weapons boarded the ships and were able to save about 20 ships, but 52 sank in the ocean. Many ships were on fire and sank slowly. Nothing could be done about them.
Now close to a 100 years have elapsed, but the German Ships can still be seen with a guide as they lie on the bed of the harbor. I travelled with a gude and had a look at the submerged ships, some of their masts are just above the sea and visible to all. Von Reutor was successfull in denying use of the German fleet to the Royal Navy.
The base was also used in WWII, but it had reduced importance and after WWII, the base lost its importance as the threat was from Russia. Now only a skeleton service mans the base which at one time was the most important base of the Royal Navy. Visiting Scapa Flow is a pleasure and I will recommend all, to visit this base when visiting Scotland.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article The most useful subject for future.
Fortunately the answer calls for no special thinking, as it is too evident. I think that the subject is at everyone’s finger tip and it is computer, both hardware and software.
It is today almost unavoidable. The future lies with it. But I have certain reservations.
The device which is becoming a human substitute is in its teething time. Being a global phenomenon it comes up every day with new samples of its potential. I observe that our generation is in a state of committing itself to it up to the neck. It can achieve assured result and an increasing degree of perfection faster. It has invaded the world of art and craft, anatomy, physiology and bio-science and has set new milestones of success and achievement.
Naturally it imposes itself upon anyone with an extreme urgency. Personally I want to mark it play second fiddle to my passion. I have a passion for zoology, which I want to adopt at my future career. The world of the fauna interests me much. The national geographic channel in the TV every day initiates me into the mysterious habits, responses and behaviours of the wild variety of creatures from the grasshopper to the lions and tigers. It inspires or inflames imagination. I notice how explorers of knowledge poach in their territory at night collecting data. The computer software device can arrange these data; sort them and device new possibilities of development. But it can do only what compares its purview, its limited potential. The human mind, I think, is comparatively a more unlimited phenomenon.
As such the computer can never replace the human potential. It is a mechanical contraption that house brain modules, one might say. Naturally it is an always in a state of flux; what avails today may be defunct tomorrow. It has to play second fiddle to human quest. I believe that its utility lies in playing a complementary role in the Great Quest which is the chief haul mark of the millennium. We see how it’s of the speed of human thinking, research and explanation. The computer with its novel technique has hastened new discoveries.
Thus the computer is unavoidable as a subject unless one loves to rot in a rut. But the question remains. Shall it not partially cripple the god-gifted human abilities for the coming generation in distant future?
9 years ago
Shampa Sadhya created new article 4 Ways to Write a Unique Write-Up to avoid Plagiarism.
To produce a unique write-up we must remember that there are four important factors of writing which basically do not only possess a strong independent identity in creative writing rather these are very much interlinked to each other too. It would be better to say that these factors of writing are simply like human beings. People need to deliver in their lifetime as individual personalities along with the relationships they share with other beings to have a successful life. On the whole, the life of a person is a product of various combinations so is the case with our writing.
We can churn out a unique piece of writing only when we interlink the main four aspects of writing: originality, language, content and last but not the least editing/proofreading. Working upon all these four factors of writing automatically shuns the cheapest, the unwanted and the unethical writing skill called plagiarism.
If we strictly follow this pattern of writing then there will be no need to cross-check our own writing piece regarding plagiarism.
1.Be Original: Let us keep ourselves simply original. Who else can speak a writer’s mind? Just no one can do so other than the individual himself or herself who has the ability to put forth the viewpoint which is going through one’s own mind very distinctly. It is simply impossible and absurd for anyone to present an original thought of others. It may seem to be very similar in opinion or language but the final outcome can’t beat the sanctity of the original writer’s thought process as well as the method of presentation. As writers we must have faith in ourselves that we have the capability to pen down our thoughts, naturally then, the originality will definitely show up in our piece of writing which will make it entirely uncommon because pieces of writing which seem very common directly point towards plagiarism.
2.Proper Language: Having an original idea does not finish a writer’s job. The written material has to reach the readers so we have to put it on a sheet of paper either manually or electronically. Thus, language becomes the need of the hour. Certainly, then, a good grasp of language in whichever language we are to write is a must. There is no need to write in an ornamental language, it can be written in a very simple and straight forward language but we must keep in mind that mistake in grammar and in spelling should be avoided. A write-up with full of such mistakes cannot make an impact on the readers in spite of having a strong content. If this happens then the effort goes wasted.
3.Meaningful Content: Every write-up has its own value. It cannot be weighed on the basis of the category of the content. That means a write-up can be based upon a very personal experience, related to current affairs, entertainment, political review, health, fashion, lifestyle and anything under the sky. The importance of any write-up is based upon the reader’s mindset and subject of interest. The demand of articles, essays or blogs may vary from time to time according to the taste of the readers but in no way any written material can be devalued in the context of another write-up. That means a political article has its own taker while the health conscious people or those who are fond of cooking will go for health articles and recipes respectively and similar will be the case with the articles of any other category.
Actually, the most important point that we must keep in mind is, the content must be meaningful. It must be qualitatively rich that which can add some value to the reader’s mind. It is a proven fact that content is the king so no write-up can make an everlasting impact upon the readers without a valuable content. Thus, the writer’s should be very particular about choosing the subject-matter and there comes the importance of personal knowledge and reference or research work. Unless and until the writer is confident about the subject on what one is about to write should not try his writing skill on it. The write-up will ultimately end up as a farcical attempt because of the lack of clarity in one’s thought process due to a weak weaving of its content. It may even lead to an assumption that it’s a plagiarized post which will not serve the purpose of writing.
4.Editing/Proof reading: What will we edit? We can edit only when we have written something and that’s the reason this point comes as the fourth point but don’t assume it to be the least important of the four ways to create a unique write-up. In reality editing/proof reading gives the write-up a final structure. In absence of it the write-up may contain lots of grammatical errors, spelling mistakes as well as lack the expression that’s required for a write-up. A proper editing/proof reading helps in fixing all the errors and also sets the mood of the write-up which in exchange enhances the quality of the final output in manifolds. So, no one can ignore this point because the writer cannot afford to lose his/her credibility.
We write but we are readers too so when we play the role of a reader then we never appreciate a write-up with lots of mistakes. Such write-ups dissatisfy us a lot and we switch over to another one so if our creations are full of errors then the readers will treat them in the same manner. Keeping this in mind we must give proper importance to editing/proof reading and while practising this we must be very careful. Even the readers may consider our articles and blogs as pieces of plagiarism if they contain errors after errors. It's so because the readers become doubtful about the writer's competence and consider the write-up as a copied work. Editing/proof reading is similar to fine tuning or garnishing a dish which makes the presentation worth reading and to a great extent is a road to success.
Be yourself is the winning tip for every writer. The writing style differs from writer to writer that means some maybe a very ordinary writer, some mediocre while others maybe a very extraordinary as well as quite ornamental writer. The fan following will vary on the basis of a writer’s calibre but still even the simplest of writer can survive in the world of writing only when the author follows the golden four rules which are mentioned above. Thus, what are you waiting for? Express your creative and imaginative skill in writing and reach out to your readers but remember the write-up has to be original, written in proper language, contain a strong content and must go through revisions after revisions to have a properly edited piece of writing. That's how an article, blog or any write-up will be free from plagiarism and will stand tall as one and only of its kind.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article Cigarette smoking in public place should not be allowed.
Prima facie the proposition appears to be very innocent but it is not so in reality. In underscores some fallacies. I do not intend to contradict it, but I support it with certain reservations.
Smoking has been an ingrained habit in men from days immemorial. Like many other habits it has remained a part of human life in companies and groups, in solitude, in thinking, in idle hours, before and after dinner. To chuck it through a fiat or command like as proposed in our subject above, will be a bit cruel.
Today, however, its consumption shows a remarkable decline. Fatal diseases like cancer and cardiac or cerebral strokes have struck terror in the hearts of men. Men are today more enlightened in matters concerning health. It must, however, be acknowledged that the mortality rate owing to fatal diseases is not simply due to smoking. Tensions, malnutrition, hectic having and lack of physical engagements largely contribute to it.
Thus human life, as such, has becomes susceptible to diseases and cigarette smoking hastens the decimation. The towns and the cities team with overloaded buses. Naturally smoking becomes hazardous for the passengers. A recent theory holds that a non-smoker is more susceptible to cigarette smokes that a smoker. A smoker’s internal combative force is more adjusted to its hazards, whereas it is not so with the non-smoker. Naturally the latter is more likely to fall prey to its bad effect easily enough.
The regulatory system has mounted a mock-warning to a smoker as every packet stares him with “cigarette smoking is injurious to health“. Every fag that he smokes forbids him to indulge in it. It is doubtless that such measures gradually induce in the smokers an awareness of the harm. There are surveys which show that the incidence of smoking is today much less. In the public places there are smoking corners.
As stated earlier, smoking has been ever a boon companion for men. To part with is observed, often, to be a painful experience. It helps thinking in men, serves as a delightful diversion to chain smokers who make a tunnel of smoke-rings. Naturally it dies hard. Prohibition of public smoking often places the sinner at a disadvantage. They would slink off from the midst of gathering or elders to act on the sly.
Its history says that it has served men in distress or moments of emotional tension as a relief. Today, however, its evil effect is of going to banish it. I have seen a chain smoker who had to give up smoking being warned by death. Every now and then his hand fished into his trousers pocket in a reflex action.
Thus the proposition has to be supported no doubt. And today cigarette smoking in public place is regarded as an unwritten offence. But it is like the banishment of a onetime dear friend who has turned rebel suddenly.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article Health and Wellness: Are they Synonmous?.
Health and wellness are two words that to many appear to be the same thing. However there is a subtle difference between the two. An added factor that is closely linked with these two words is sex. In India sex is a taboo world now, but there was a time when it was not so and India was the most enlightened nation in the world. One reason for this is that sex in Indian philosophy is intricately linked with religion and is also one of the roads to Moksha or slavation.
Health and wellness are not synonmous. This is a general statement. One can define and say that health is the opposite of ill-health and wellness is the opposite of illness. This can be confusing but in reality it is not so. One can say that both are interlinked, but it is possible that a man may have good health but does not have wellness.
Health is comparatively simple and means that a man is free from illlness. Wellness is a little more complex. To understand this one must delve a little more. A factor that is now accepted is that the common denominator that aids both health and wellness is sex. This has nothing to do with marriage, but a urge to mate with a woman married or not.
Two Indian sages of a bygone era namely Patanjali and Charaka( both circa 2nd century BC) have given us an insight on wellness. Perhaps that is the reason that Baba Ramdev is using the name Patanjal on his products that help bring about wellness. What do thes etwo erudite sages say?
Patanjali says that wellness means that a human being is liberated in life, liberated from pain both mental and physical,liberation from disease and the ability to mate with a woman even 3/4 decades younger. Charka, who is less well known says that wellness is a condition of the body where there is no room from illness. He means immunity from all diseases. As per him wellness is related not only to the body but the mind and soul as well. Wellness is a body condition and sex is a part of it and is the greatest rejuvenator.
Both sages had a clear insight of human beings and life in this world. What they have stated holds true even today and modern doctors have vouchsafed the truth of what both Patanjali and Charka have stated. Good health is not enough incase you do not have the factor of wellness. Many people in good health are unable to enjoy the wonder of life as they are mentally overburdened and unable to free themselves. One opening for a release and liberation is meditiation and prayer. Another method is Tantra sex. This is another form of penance and means that orgasm is not the goal, but just a milestone to the higher echelons of the mind.
The WHO( World Health Organization) has defined health as not only the absence of illness, but includes the wellness of the human being. It covers a whole lot of things like lifestyle, enviornment, relation with women( sex) and living conditions. This defination is vast and implies that people who live with poor sanitation, lack of drinking water, poor eating habits, lack of food cannot have a feeling of wellness. It will also affect their health.
Sadly all the above are applicable to India, for this is the country where we live and are obviously concerned about. Is it not a matter of sadness that 50% of the population have no toilets and live more like animals. In figures this works out to some 650 million people. I think this is a shame and then a basic amenity like drinking water is not there in 50-60% of the villages. Gandhi had said India lives in its villages, yet I am afraid he was just a wily politician and there is no campaign started by him for hygiene in villages.Did Gandhi ever concern himself in educating people particularly the villagers about proper excretion of waste products? Frankly he was a sham. These are harsh words, but one has to call a spade a spade. After 7 decades it is only Modi who thought of it.
The ancient Indian sages had clear concepts of health and wellness. As I have said sex is the common denominator for both. For the average man it is important to understand that a regressive and self denial approach in life can affect your wellness. Wellness has many pillars and mediatation, pranayama,Yogic exercises with sexual release can greatly contribute to wellness and by corollory good health. I think this is where Acharya Rajneesh made a significant contribution. He advocated a lack of inhibtion. In any case he stated nothing new, as all what he said or wrote is part of ancient Hindu scriptures.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article How Ronald Reagan Broke the " Evil Empire" the USSR.
Ronald Reagan was President of America at a critical time in world history. He was a Hollywood actor early in his life, but entered politics and won the presidential election in 1980. He was the 40th President of the USA and held the office of president from 1981-89. Reagan served the permissible 2 terms as President. These were tumultuous years as during his period in power, he formulated a concerted plan that led to the USSR being dismantled. Reagan always referred to the Soviet Union as the Evil Empire and considered it an anachronsm in world history.
Once Reagon became president he reversed the policy of previous US presidents, which was containment of the Soviet Union and detente to one of aggressive and proactive oppostion to the Soviet Union and the areas controlled by them. He had a one point plan, which he confided to his Security Advisor " we win, they lose". In fact in an address to the British parliament in 1983, he grandly announced that he had a plan that will send communism to the dustbin of history. If I remember correctly the term he used was " ash heap of history".
A look at how the earlier presidents reacted to the Soviet Union can be educative. President Truman had his first brush with communism during the Berlin Blockade(1948) and the KoreanWar( 1950-53). He wanted to just fight Communism, but failed as the USA gained nothing in the wars under Truman. The next President Ike Eishenhower decided to ring the Soviet Union with bases and pacts. His sole aim was to contain Communism. John Kennedy badly burnt his fingers during the Cuba crisis in 1962 and his successor Johnson decided the best way to oppose communism was by pacts and proactive war like Vietnam. He failed. It was followed by Jimmy Carter who never realized the true nature of Communism and decided on detente. It was only Reagon who made a one pont plan to destry the USSR and he knew that economic way was the best way as the USSR could not economically compete with USA.
Reagan had conviction and he was convinced the Soviets could not match the arms race with the USA. He was confident that any attempt to match the US arms would seriously affect the Soviet economy. Reagan thus authorised a arms buildup and the Soviets had no choice but to try and match the Americans. This strained the Soviet economy, which could not match the US arms buildup and as Reagan had envisaged cracks began to appear in the Soviet Empire.
Reagan actively began a support of all groups opposed to the Soviet Union. In this he also took the help of General Zia ul Haq who coordinated the US response to the Soviets in Afghanistan. The Soviet economy could not sustain the war in Afghanistan. Reagan also persuaded Saudi Arabia to increase oil production, leading to a oil glut in the market. Prices came down and the Soviets suffered the most as oil exports was the main source of Russian income. With dwindling income the Soviets could not sustain the military expenditure, resulting in the economy cracking.
Reagan also authorized all out support to anti Soviet rebels anywhere in the world. The USA also stepped up support to the East Europeans under Soviet control. It became a difficult time for the Soviets and with Leonid Brezhnev passing away, no comparable Soviet leader was available to lead the Soviet Union.
The Russian economy began to stagnate and when the Russians shot down a Korean jetliner in 1983, the American response unnerved the Soviet Union. Reagan ordered the Able Archar 83 exercise and the Russians feared a nuclear attack by the USA. Reagan also removed the pro-communist regime in Grenada and more important tightened the screws on transfer of technology to the Russians and their Eastern bloc.
Reagon was proved right. He had forecast the destruction of the Evil Empire and by the time he left the presidency, the eastern bloc had broken from the Soviet Union and the Berlin wall had come down. This was Reagans achievement and was a tribute to his one point plan to finish off the Soviet Union. His judicious support of Boris Yeltsin at a critical moment against Gorbochov, was a master stroke.
Communism would have collpased anyway in Russia, but the process was hastened by the policies of Reagan. In this he got the support of Margret Thatcher of the UK. Reagan was never thought of as good presidential material, like Trump is these days, but when in power he surprised all and sundry. He changed the earlier presidents policy from containment of Soviet Russia to confrontation and made the economic plans to break the Soviet economy. Now many Americans feel he was a good president. However he left behind some muck, which incubated after he left and led to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. Perhaps Reagan should have been a little more caeful in trusting Zia ul Haq and the Afghan Mujahaddin.
Reagan is dead and gone and the Soviet Union is history. The evil empire has been dismantled, but America faces another and greater danger with the rise of an Islamic dream of Caliphate. Whether Trump will win and emulate Reagan is a toss up. However by November we will know where America is headed.
9 years ago
Dr. Simran Kaur created new article 2 Things Present in Instant Noodles, which make it a Health Hazard Food.
Instant noodles of which ever company, vary on some ingredients, vary on taste; but, all of them have some basic ingredients, which are health hazard; in fact, they are the root cause, which make instant noodles a health hazard. Some instant noodles have, these health harming ingredients, in less quantity and some in more quantity. Depending on that quantity meter, the health harming meter differs. So question is, what are harms of these health harming ingredients, which are found common in different instant noodles; but vary in proportion?
Well they are-
1) Wax-
Yes, that much wax is used, to make instant noodles that a human cannot digest, in one day. It needs days of approximately 7 in row, to digest that much wax; which is used to make instant noodles. Any food remaining undigested, for 7 days in stomach, would make nothing else; but impairs digestion. But, why that much wax is used to make instant noodles? What is purpose of using that much amount? Can't instant noodles be made without it? Well, it is used to maintain elongated non-sticky shape of, instant noodles; after cooking them. Because, if it is not used; then instant noodles will come out broken, into small pieces; sticked to each other, after cooking. As, I said, its amount vary with different companies; that's reason, why some instant noodles are some what sticky and some are not sticky at all; which are totally un-sticky, they are much tastier. So, for taste, you are paying price of instant noodles, remaining in your stomach for 7 days; impairing your digestion.
2) Refined flour-
Yes, no doubt wheat flour based instant noodles called as, "attat noodles" have come in market; but, still market is flooded with, refined flour based instant noodles because they are much tastier than wheat flour based and public purchase tastier one more. So, based on purchase, refined one are found more, in market. But, why refined flour is used, to make instant noodles and what is its harm? Refined flour makes cooking process of, instant noodles fast; whereas wheat flour based instant noodles, take more time to cook. And fast food is called fast because it get consumed fast and cooked fast. But, again for fast cooking, you have to pay price of nutrient lack; in refined flour based, instant noodles because refined flour contains, no nutrients whereas wheat flour contains essential nutrients; power packed in it, it is not like nutrient lacking refined flour.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article There are three types of person in this world.
cThe epigram that is the core of the subject is too true to be denied. But yet, when I put it to my personal life, I fail to equate the statement with my life. The situation underlines a paradox.
On the face of it, I fall into the second category of the won’ts’ whereas my parents committed me to be the third category of the can’ts’. But I am neither; nay, I am both. Mark how.
I am the only son of my parents and I have a brother six years my senior. My brother has a good and straight academic record, but I have none. I have little interest in study and career, and almost no musical voice.
Being a son, I must have some quality to recommend myself. If a boy, I could run a shop or be put in some good concern writing ledgers. But for me marriage is a must. I am thrust into a class, prodded with texts. But my temperament won’t accept either the texts that repel it or my teacher who becomes more and more cross every day. My brother’s smooth sailing career throws into greater relief my worthlessness as a child of my parents. My father gets me a harmonium. But after some initial attempts, I feel bored with the instrument. I won’t sit with the exercise-lessons daily, as told by my music teacher. This won’ts often created a row in the family. As I grew in age I could often here my parents quarrelling, I being the topic. They discussed about my perverse nature. Mother would charge father that he ought to spare some of his hours of card-playing and teach me. Father being a good card player, it touched him to the quick. He would charge back in reply that she too can spare some of her idle gossips to make me sit with the harmonium. This often caused an unpleasant quarrel.
But, unfortunately, none of my parents bothered to probe what is my ‘will’. By chance, one day I was caught unaware by my father’s friend who is a professional painter. This passion was my strongpoint. But I painted secretly as I thought that it would be condemned by my parents. Not only they; it is a general rule with parents that they discourage those bents in their children that do not fall in line with their ideas. My artist-elder, whom I call uncle, was amazed to see my paintings. My father being out, he spent some time with me, sorting through my works, which were not less in number.
This event broke the ice. At his instance I bagged some coveted district distinctions in painting competitions. Subsequently I secured my admission in the fine arts department in the Shantiniketan. And now I am pet tingly reckoned as one among the ‘wills’.
Naturally the posed epigram in the question can never have a cut-and dried answer. It is extremely difficult to put human beings into water-tight categories.
9 years ago
Reena created new article Science Behind Food Rituals.
It is well known to all of us that food, shelter and clothing are considered to be essential commodities in everyone's life. They are the basic needs and one ought to have them. In their absence, life becomes difficult and uneasy. Among food, shelter and clothing, food takes the number one spot and it becomes most essential commodity for survival. It is necessity of life and no one can imagine a life in its absence. Body requires fuel to produce energy and this energy is essential to do work. Food acts as a fuel which will produce energy. It fulfills nutritional requirements of body. Body requires lots of different nutrients in different amount for its well functioning. Some of them are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins etc..... Food consumed helps body to carry out all its functions properly by supplying required nutrition in adequate amount. This time to time replenishment of all the nutrients help body to work efficiently.
Food is always considered to be very essential for our well being and thus since ancient times it is compared to God. God looks after all our activities and helps us to carry forward our lives by blessing us with enough strength and courage. Similarly, food too provides energy and heat essential for us to do work and remain healthy. Such is the importance of food in our lives. Thus, out of respect, we make efforts not to waste it and utilize it to the fullest. Poor and needy who are often deprived of food can be best served if we offer them something to eat. This is considered to be the best service one can ever provide. Feeding hungry and quenching the thirst of thirsty is like serving God. In human society, there has always been special customs and traditions practiced since ancient times with respect to obtaining and consuming food. They followed traditional rituals to consume pure and rich-energy food for healthy living. These traditions that we are following since ancient times which are related to food are not only important from aspect of spirituality and provide mental contentment but also well accepted scientifically today. Thus, if today's generation who are non believers in traditional practices and consider them to be old and of non importance should understand that they all of them have a scientific purpose behind them. We were told to practice them without actually been told the purpose behind them. Thus, we did not find it acceptable and started moving away from our traditional practices. However, now we have to understand the meaning and purpose behind these practices and there by we will find them easy to follow.
We are what we eat. Thus, right from ancient times, man has given lots of importance with regard to preparation before cooking, while cooking food and then consuming it. Place where food has to be cooked should be clean, free from any microbes or dirt. Not only the area has to be clean, environment should be pure. Purity should not only be taken in physical aspect. Today most of us buy clean, fresh produce of fruits and vegetables, clean grains and cereals, give importance to maintaining cleanliness in our kitchen and dining area. However, this is just not enough. All these things are very important. Right from ancient era importance was given to cook fresh produce. It was a pollution free era and thus they easily obtained every thing that was pure and fresh. All their produce in farm were free of insecticides and harmful pesticides. Grains and cereals they obtained were all free from adulteration. Today, however we struggle to get such products. Organic products are available but are way more expensive than our pockets can afford. People from ancient era knew the importance of freshness and healthy living. They cooked in pollution free environment and area was clean and tidy. The whole environment was pure both physically and spiritually. The person who cooked food use to chant spiritual mantras or sing devotional songs or think positive thoughts. As each thought radiates and spreads around easily, thus positive vibrations would easily get radiated and the food that was being cooked also would acquire it. That food was when consumed by others would instill in them same amount of positive vibrations. However, today we all give more importance to maintaining cleanliness outside rather than inside. We purchase clean and fresh products, cook and dine in clean area but how pure is the environment in which we cook and dine. First and foremost the environment around us is completely polluted from outside and our internal environment too is not very pure. We often cook in hustle-bustle and stress. We may try our best to make it as healthy and as tasty as we can but still we suffer from ill-health. This is because our thought were not right. We while cooking or serving or even while eating were not calm and stress free and thus food we prepared too carried same sort of vibrations and this food when consumed by others then they too received the same sort of vibrations. Thus, we need to learn not only regarding the importance of maintaining cleanliness and purity outside but also regarding maintaining cleanliness and purity inside.
Earlier when the food was been prepared, first it was offered to God and then it was served to everyone in the family. Now some can consider it to be just a practice where tradition is involved but it has scientific meaning behind it. When food is served to God, each and every person creates positive thoughts in their mind. It makes them internally pure. These positive vibrations spread around and the food consumed in such a peaceful, positive environment is high in energy and very helpful to the body. It becomes rich in energy and far more beneficial than the food which is been consumed in environment which is full of stress and tension. Such food hardly gets digested and is no way beneficial to the body.
Earlier people would practice a few more traditions related to food. Once food was offered to God, it was served to everyone in the family. Before consuming it, each and everyone in the family would chant spiritual mantras which were high in energy and would practice certain rituals related to food and water like keeping a portion of food from their plate aside for offering it to cow and all these practices consumed 3-5 minutes. Now from scientific point of view, these rituals again created high positive energy in body which will aid in efficient digestion which in turn will extract maximum nutrients from the food which will bless them with good health. Another thing is within this duration of 3-5 minutes, when rituals were been carried out the smell and sight of food triggers salivary gland to produce lots of saliva. As we all know, digestion first begins in the oral cavity and saliva is essential as it aids in digestion. In this way, lots of saliva excreted mixes up easily with the food that is been consumed and would ensure proper and complete digestion. Another fact is since food is first offered to God, an individual consumes it in the form of prasad and this feeling will make him enjoy food. It will taste at its best and will be high in energy.
Earlier eating together was a tradition that was very commonly followed in each and every family. Each and every one in family would get together and consume their food. This feeling of togetherness instills lots of positive vibrations in the environment. It brings contentment and a feeling is instilled in each and everyone that they are not lonely and in times of happiness and sadness others are there for them. However, today this tradition is no longer followed in our society. Time is an issue which often comes in between as a hurdle to carry out this tradition. All the members of the family follow a different time schedule as per the timing of their schools, colleges or offices. Thus, nobody has the time or patience to wait for others and eat together. Hardly one can see existence of joint families today and if there exists any then all of them follow their separate pattern of life styles. Even in nuclear families which comprise of hardly 3-4 members, it is seen that members of family do not eat together. Scientific purpose behind eating together is love and compassion that we get from elderly members of our family as well as of those around us and this instills positive vibrations in us and as the amount of purity and pure thoughts increases in an individual, it exerts positive effects on his digestive system.
Earlier not only care was taken to prepare and serve food in pure and clean environment, care was also taken that while food is consumed, everyone is at peace both internally and externally. As soon as one would sit to begin eating their food they would leave their work aside and concentrate only on food. Even they would never create a thought about their pending work or difficulties they are going through. Thus, stress was not created in them and they would remain at peace both internally and externally. However, today we all live a stressful life. We do not have time for ourselves as well as we do not have time for our family. We even while consuming our meals, work on something. If we are not working then either we are playing games, using mobile phones or watching television. Thus, most of our attention is towards these equipment's. Even internally we go through a lot of chaos. We constantly keep creating thoughts about the work that we have to complete and regarding other issues in life which are bothering us since a long time. This creates a lot of stress and tension within an individual. It is been proved scientifically that the food which is consumed in peaceful and stress-free environment is very easily as well as effectively digested when compared to food that is being consumed during stress which gets hardly digested and most of it is excreted unused.
People in earlier times would follow a strict timetable of eating. They made sure that they ate every meal of theirs at fixed timings. This helped a lot in digestion. If we are feeding our digestive system at fixed time everyday, it gets designed to do its work timely. Improper amount and untimely feeding will disturb its efficiency to do work. This is what is happening today. We do not have time to feed ourselves and thus we go for fast foods which are very small in portion size as well as lack in nutrition. We sometimes eat early whereas other times delay eating. Follow an eating pattern which suits our work schedule. This creates lots of acid production in stomach which is responsible for acidity and heart burn. Lots of stomach related disorders and diseases too are seen commonly. We need to follow a strict timing of feeding ourselves no matter how busy we are or no matter how fast our lives are running forward in this hustle-bustle environment.
Earlier people would follow a healthy diet which was full of nutrition. They would consume lots of fruits, raw vegetables. They would include sprouts in their diet. Dairy and dairy products were given lots of importance. Thus their meal was a complete as well as rich as it was full of nutrients. Their daily nutrient requirement their body demanded would be very easily met by their diet itself and required no extra supply of nutrients in the form of capsules. They suffered from no sort of nutritional deficiency. However, today our diet lacks nutrition and our body lacks health. We do not eat a complete meal. We go for fast foods and unhealthy deep fried foods which may be rich in taste but lack nutrition. We eat unhealthy and live a very unhealthy life style. This has affected our health.
Today science has proved that we need to wash our hands and legs before consuming meals. Hands need to be cleaned properly and thoroughly as they come in contact with food that we are going to consume. Any dirt or dust present on it will enter our body and will become a matter of concern to us. On the other hand, microbes present on our hands enter our body and causes various diseases. Thus, for our well being washing hands is recommended just before consuming meals. Legs should also be washed. Though most of us do not do that and are ignorant with the knowledge that how helpful it is for our digestion. We avoid washing our legs as we think it is totally unnecessary since this part is no way going to come in contact with food. However, a few decades back it was a compulsion or tradition to thoroughly wash hands as well as legs before consuming food. Reason behind washing legs is, it increases efficiency of working of digestive system. Our digestive system will work more efficiently. Even acupressure technique has proved that there are hundreds of acupressure points on our palms and feet. These when pressed for certain duration increases working efficiency of different parts or different organs of our body.
For us traditional practices are rituals and thus we disobey to practice them as the real meaning behind performing them is not known and thus not told to us. Each and every tradition that was been started had purpose beneath it. Similarly all the practices that were carried out related to food were just not rituals but had meaning in them. Scientific research been done proves their importance. Whenever a traditional practice been asked for us to perform, we have to ask for its importance and when importance is known, we should with both hands embrace it and follow it to reap its benefits. All the rituals our elders performed related to food have a purpose beneath them. We need to understand them and try to follow them for our healthy well being.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article Rivers and lakes are always interesting and commercially important to people who live near them..
River and lakes are almost as old as civilization itself. The roads and Rails are, admittedly, a much later phase. Even in the prehistoric days the waters formed the prime routes. Naturally commerce art and culture and even raids or invasions were largely dependent on it.
Venice is a city of lakes even today. In Europe the rivers Peo, Rhine, Seine and the Adriatic Sea; and in Egypt the river Nile were the chief sources that imported and exchanged the various cultures. They contributed largely to the Mediterranean culture. In India the Gangetic and the Indus valley civilization are riparian.
The cargo boats in the Ganges ply trade materials like the bamboos and logs of woods. In Myanmar (Burma) and Yangon (Rangoon) the timber trade is a regular feature of the commercial use of the rivers. When road traffic gluts in big cities the authorities take recourse to the rivers. To cite, in Kolkata the Ganges now lends large-scale relief to the town administrators, and boat ferry has made the movements of commuters and others much easier as well as healthier. Again the rivers provide and have provided a never-ending source of enjoyment, fun and games. The Dhakuria Lake (Kolkata) becomes seasonally a site for delectable rowing by the member of the Kolkata Rowing club. The river Thames that skirts many towns and cities in England become alive often with rowing boats. This is Needless to mention that this event is centuries old in England.
These days there are also adventurous feats for ambitious youths in which the river plays a significant role. Rafting is one of them which make people feel awesome when they are in river. Many young boys and girls jump into the fray regardless of the hazards of the game. It involves a pluck and courage to dare the turbulent current of the river. It usually takes place in the upper reaches of the Ganges. Sometimes people very rarely, one is lost in a vortex. But the joy is in the adventure itself, a fit enterprise for the youth.
Thus the rivers are the natural outlets of the stored energy of young men, whereas the lakes are artificial ones. Such amusements and exercises are avowedly healthy ones and the phenomenon is steadily gaining ground.
There are some places in North Bihar and Bangladesh or Assam which have intricate river network. Although today we have improved modes of river commutations, in more primitive days the men there had to depend more on indigenous means. The children of these localities always showed greater pluck and courage in negotiating watery tracts. It is interesting to read the stories of their lives. They lived to plunge into the river day in and day out and very seldom suffered from cough and cold. In the rainy season they shifted to safer and higher regions loading their belongings which they could salvage on wooden cots that served as boats. What struck terror in the hearts of town-dwellers, was for those lads interesting and play like.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article Book Review: American Writer Maddox Ford's Novel " The Good Soldier, Tale of Passion".
American English has a realm of its own and American literature is distinct from English literature. In India we sometimes are unable to distinguish between the two, but there are subtle differences in syntax, spelling and grammar. America has a rich literary heritage in English and has thrown up many prominent English writers. Many of them have won the Nobel Prize in literature. Prominent are O Henry, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Harper Lee, Henry Miller and many others.
One of the American writers who left an indelible mark is Maddox Ford. He was born in 1873 and died in 1939. Maddox thus had a bird's eye view of the world and life at a time when the world was changing. His book that has been of great interest to me is " A Good Soldier: Tale of Passion". Maddox wrote the book in 1915 and now we are aware, that it is considered great literature. In 1988, the book was ranked 30th in the all time list of 100 greatest books of the 20th century by the Modern Library. Many critics rate this novel as a book from the top-drawer of books of the last century.
When the book was published the First World War had the attention of the world and that was the reason that the title of the book incorporated the word 'soldier'. The book is a tortuous tale of love and betrayal. I have a feeling that much of the book was inspired by his personal life and experience in love and sex. These are the two ingredients that touch the emotional chord of most people. What greater pleasure than to read a book that perhaps has the personal experience of the author.
The novel's scenario is the onset of WW I, when war clouds were hovering over the world, with the German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm wanting to assert the domination of Germany. The novel is the tale of a soldier named Edward Ashburnham. Along with this character, Ford creates two other characters, who are friends of Edward. Basically the novel delineates the sexual life of 2 couples, with the inherent contradictions of such a relationship.
The style of the novel is in my views a bit tedious as Ford relates the story through a third person named John Dowell, who becomes the narrator. The novel is in 4 parts and each part integrates into the other through flashbacks. It is a difficult style and readers will have to get used to it, but once one gets into the spirit, the novel is simply superb.
The story concerns the two couples who have gone for a health cure to a German town. There are mutual attractions and in the first part wife of one of the characters commits suicide as she feels betrayed by her lover. The novel moves further and Edward continues living with his wife, but has many sexual affairs. The most sordid of them is his infatuation for a young girl who is his ward. Her name is Nancy and Edward lusts for her. People who have been in love can easily relate to the love and infatuation of Edward for Nancy and his carnal knowledge of her body. As he makes ferocious love to Nancy who is half his age, he is consumed by an inner flame. This has a flip side and ends with John Dowell relating that Edward commits suicide.
The poor girl Nancy tormented by the goings on becomes mad. Its a macabre tale and rivets the attention of the reader. The Good Soldier is about the basic trait of human relationship, namely sex, lust and love, which are all interlinked. I suspect that most of the novel has incidents from the personal life of Ford Maddox.
Maddox was friends with 2 iconic writers namely Ernest Hemingway and Thomas hardy, who have their own place in English literature. But he was hurt as both the writers never mentioned about him in their works. Hemingway added a small line in one of his books.
The book is a top drawer novel from America. Maddox has 3 other famous books to his name. They are Parade's end,The Fifth Queen and Romance. The last novel Romance was in collaboration with Thomas Hardy.
Maddox spent the final years of his life at Oliver College where he taught English. Later he visited France in 1939 and died at Deauville. By today's standards he died young, as he was only 65. However I will recommend all readers of this article to read the novel, which is a great piece of American literature.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article My remarkable train journey .
Having supped for the night I scaled to my upper berth. The whole day was spent in hectic preparations. Being tired through and through I fell asleep. At around midnight when I alighted from the berth to go to the lavatory, I saw that the train touched off Lucknow.
A faint hubbub that reached me through my sleep indicated that it was some sort of a pandemonium. It was small hours of the morning. I jumped from my berth and saw that the centre of the confusion was some three cubicles away. In the process of getting down at Aligarh a small sleeping child had fallen down from the upper berth. The helpers were busy with the girl. I leaned forward to see the injury, as I always carry with me a first-aid box. But meanwhile my attention stuck at a queer object. It was hidden from view. I had a clear apprehension that it was some lethal object. It might be a bomb, I thought. I decided to be cautious. The least mention of it will spread a panic. In the hurry and confusion it may be disastrous.
In the NCC I had learnt as to how one should behave in such situations. I quickly brought my aid-box and dressed the child’s injury. Instead of speaking aloud I whispered my suspicion into the ears of an elderly person. Quietly the passengers of the spot got down. A boy brought in the conductor guard and through him the train was detained.
But the silent activities could not last not long enough. The matter surfaced and the typical Indian confusion ensued. I got involved in the whole operations. I rushed to the GRP who might have trained staff, for everyone is not competent to handle such dangerous things.
A usual hurly-burly set in and I was completely taken in by the situation. The experts came and confirmed it to be a bomb by means of their detection devices. The entire compartment was evacuated and the passengers safely landed on the platform. The bomb was defused and brought down.
I had to accompany the expert body to their office to endorse a report. They said that I deserved and award also for this good service.
Naturally I got stuck up at their office to complete sundry entries and signatures. Meanwhile the bogy was detached for the train.
The entire event lasted for more than two hours and I was involved into the whole affair up to the neck. Naturally I had little time or breathing space to think about myself. When I came out of the GRP office and came to my senses, I began to hear a repeated announcement. It appealed to the passengers of the affected compartment. A separate bogie was being attached. The loudspeaker hauntingly repeated the bogie number.
I woke up to my senses and was about to rush to the station master. But I found a co-passenger carrying my suitcase. I felt to be lucky, but suddenly remembered that my small bag carrying my documents and a certificate was missing. But by then the bogie was in the siding and untraceable. I was going to attend an interview. I lodged a complaint with the GRP and obtained this certificate. It was a big loss, no doubt.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article Islamic Pakistan and Alcohol Manufacture.
The state of Pakistan was the dream of the poet Iqbal, who visualized a homeland for Muslims of the sub-continent. That's the reason he used the word "Pak" meaning "pure" in Urdu, as the name of the new nation. Pakistan had a tortuous birth as an Islamic state and the country soon, despite the dream of Jinnah for a secular state, adopted Islam as its state religion. But despite being a Muslim state, Pakistan could not shake off the vestiges of pluralism and liberalism, which they had learnt from the English, who were the rulers of the sub -continent.
In my visit to Pakistan about 3 years back, I visited the famous battlefield at Chillianwala and also the Sikh gurudwaras. I also interacted with a lot of Muslim officers of the PAF, both at Rawalpindi and Karachi. I was surprised that whiskey was freely available and on inquiry my host told me that he would give me a taste of whiskey manufactured in Pakistan. This was a surprise , but I had a couple of drinks of Murree Single Malt whiskey from Pakistan and was impressed with the taste. The name of the alcohol brewed in Pakistan goes by the name of "Murree", which is the name of a hill station in Pakistan and earlier had the brewery located there. The brewery suffered a fire in 1940 and shifted to the foothills, but the name Murree has remained. It's a distinctive trade mark.
Islam, as we all know is completely against alcohol. It is banned in their scriptures. But in Pakistan alcohol is manufactured and that too in large quantities. Pakistan is the only Muslim nation in the world that has an alcohol manufacturing and brewing plant.
The brewery at Murree has a checkered history that can be traced back to 1856 and that is almost a century and half back. At that time general Dyer who was commanding the troops in Punjab decided to have a local brewery to manufacture beer and rum for the English troops. The brewery came up in 1860 at the hill station at Murree. This place was chosen for its salubrious climate.The initial manufacture was guided by experts from Scotland.
The Brewery was a success and production increased. In 1900, a Parsi family settled in Punjab bought the brewery from the English owner. The Bhandara family took over the brewery and expanded it further. The company went public and in 1906, its shares were listed on the Calcutta stock exchange. After the creation of Pakistan, the shares were delisted from the Calcutta Stock exchange and listed at the Karachi stock exchange. For the last almost 70 years the shares of the company have performed consistently well over the national average.
Till the time of Bhutto, there was no prohibition in Pakistan, but with a view to cement his base Bhutto enforced prohibition in Pakistan. this was in 1977. He thought that by this act, the hard line Islamists would rally around him. Bhutto however had seriously miscalculated and he was overthrown in a military coup by general Zia-ul-Haq and subsequently hanged as a common criminal. The sad part is that those who ride the tiger are eaten by the tiger.
The brewery went into tough times, but it was revived by Zia-ul-Haq. He called Bhandara and announced that he would introduce a permit system and people with valid permits could buy alcohol. No permit was needed by the non Muslims who could buy liquor freely.
The brewery now expanded and the new MD, Minoo Bhandara made an ambitious plans. The Pakistan government allowed him to import the latest machinery and alcohol manufacturing equipment. Experts from Scotland and Germany also arrived. All this was done without publicity, but alcohol manufacture got a fillip. The brewery launched many new products and many of them are served in the bars at Mumbai.
The brewery is now one of the biggest in Asia and Minoo Bhandara is also planning to launch his products in India with a manufacturing unit at Bangalore. As far as Pakistan is concerned, the road is only forward and the company has over half a million liters of alcohol stored in its cellars in casks.
The brewery manufactures at least 6 varieties of beer and and a dozen brands of whiskey, gin and rum. these products are at par with the best in the world. Their best product is the Muree Single Malt whiskey which is 20 years old and I have doused myself with it and found it extremely smooth and classy.
The Pakistan government has outlets for Murree products in all five star hotels and select shopping arcades. Indiscriminate sale is however not allowed, but its not difficult to get a permit and buy whatever you want to drink. Bars in five star hotels also serve these drinks.
9 years ago
Jincy Aby created new article Benefits of Baby Massage.
A soft touch is more powerful than thousand words. Therefore, it is very important for human being like food. We cannot see anybody in this world who never expect to get a loving touch from others. A good massage can remove all tensions and worries from us. That is the power of massage. Massaging is very important for babies for their overall development.
Massaging plays an important role in the life of a baby. Following are some of the benefits of massaging if we do it for babies.
1. It makes digestion easy for babies.
2. Get relief from body pain.
3. Give strength to their bodies.
4. Increase their body weight.
5. Get relief from stomach pain, gastric problems and colic.
6. Increase their immunity power.
7. Give them good sleep.
8. Stimulate the growth of bones, muscles and brain.
Massaging is the best way to develop the spiritual relationship between mother and child. Mothers should fondle their babies while massaging. They also should talk something to their babies by looking at their eyes. If mothers can repeat this process daily when massaging, it will increase the attachment of babies with their mothers. Some women have depression after they deliver their babies. Baby massaging is the best solution to get rid of this disease. Not only for mothers, can fathers of babies also participate in baby massaging. Then, they get an opportunity to help their wives. More than that, this is a golden chance for fathers to converse with their babies through a soft and loving touch. This is the best way to make a healthy relationship with your child.
What we listen when we do baby massage:-
When you do massaging, look at the eyes of the babies and talk to them. Make sure that they do not have any irritation while massaging. Never massage your babies immediately after giving food. If their stomach is full, do not massage on their stomach because it will make irritation to them. Avoid massaging when the baby is in sleepy mood. Do not try to massage your babies when they are tired after a long journey. Massage your babies forty-five minutes after taking food.
9 years ago
ABSIVAKUMAR created new article Nurturing the finer aspects of human nature.
Not so long ago, Chennai was devastated with huge floods. The entire city came to a standstill and the estimated loss due to the non-working four days of havoc, ran into an estimated one lakh thousand crores.
Yet, the human spirit that rose up to the occasion, with huge help flowing from all over the country and abroad, was something that seemed to be unheard of.
The question that arises is this: can we institutionalize such voluntary efforts, by offering some organized platforms, so that such good work gets done, even in normal times.
The answer to the aforesaid question will always be in the affirmative. All that we need to do is to make certain efforts and help the movements attain a certain momentum, so that they become very concrete in terms of their foundations, at any point in time.
The first area of concern that comes to one's mind is to have an apex voluntary organization, which can be managed by persons of absolute integrity, and where funds obtained are uploaded on the website, along with expenses of any sort. This apex organization can guide various voluntary organizations in taking up meaningful social work. For example, even today, there are several slums in urban cities that depend totally on tankers for their drinking water needs. If only some good tankers are installed in such places, the people can easily get their drinking water needs satisfied. Help in the form of college fees or even books for the really poor but bright students can also be organized, so that there is a big movement, There are several hundreds of IT professionals who would be happy to donate to such noble causes and what is really needed is a big organized effort.
Let us join together and make this organized effort possible.
The second area of concern that is really worthy of consideration is to make continuous efforts to educate people on the need for public hygiene. The people deserve a far better ecosystem for public hygiene. However, nothing can be done, without the help of people. This is exactly where the voluntary organizations can help. For example, these organizations can engage in massive campaigns to keep public spaces clean.
Some efforts, for example, have been made to keep the superb Marina beach in Chennai, clean. However. whatever be the efforts, the public does not cooperate and things are back to square one.
In places where women have to work and get back to work, the safety and security of such women is becoming a matter of great concern. The police can enlist the support of volunteers from each area to give vital information on rowdy elements or men who are inclined to physically disturb women. Such volunteers can also help the police to keep a big watch over sensitive points at any time after 8PM, to enable girls and young women to reach their homes safely.
Some thought needs to be given to make this idea work, but such a thought should be very comprehensive in nature.
The third area where voluntary help can really play a big role is the support that can be extended to train the youth belonging to weaker sections and economically weaker sections, is the training of such youth in highly job-oriented or self-employment oriented trades such as motor mechanic, the electricians, TV mechanics, plumbing and so on. There is the National Skill Initiative of the Government of India, but this is highly urban centered. It has still not entered the small towns and the areas that are not serviced by formal training institutions. It is such areas that need to be taken care of, through voluntary organizations.
For instance, the self-help groups of Tamil Nadu, have been effectively able to engage a huge number of women in self employment, and a huge number of these run profitable ventures in terms of small hotels. Similarly, it is very much possible to make these groups take up training in other trades like basket making, toy making and so on. Most of these trades are highly profitable and a huge amount of revenue can indeed come to the hands of such groups, if voluntary groups chip in the required support and technical expertise.
The fourth area where the voluntary movement can help in a big way is to network with other organizations in the field in environmental protection. Some work is being in this regard, but such work is not sufficient to sustain the momentum required. For instance, tree planting of a tall order can indeed be taken up as a very big alternative in several areas.
The fifth area of voluntary movement is to make the public conscious about their human rights and about the dangers posed by fringe groups that are keen on dividing the nation, in the name of religion. The public needs to be very much aware of such dangers and should come out more openly in the public. This is not happening at all, and the communal parties are going ahead with their agenda with gay abandon.
The sixth area of voluntary involvement is to reduce the amount of corruption that has now become unmanageable. It is becoming very clear that corruption is eating into the very fabric of the society. It is making the poor, poorer day after day.
IT solutions are very much possible, and the IT professionals should network with the Government agencies to minimize corruption wherever possible, but the help of voluntary groups is vital.
The formalization of voluntary groups could happen through citizen committees that could be formed in every area covering one lakh people in the cities. Let these groups be managed by persons of high integrity, such as retired judges, the police officials, the environmental experts, lawyers, doctors, engineers and social workers. Such groups can also network with Government agencies at all levels, to ensure effective implementation of social welfare schemes.
The scope is enormous, but the "how" will depend on the availability of various resources and the need for intervention in specific cases.
We need to nature the finer aspects of human nature through voluntary help. This is an urgent priority.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article The cause of unhappiness in life is greed .
The most obvious stand is to write against greed. Greed is a recognized vice and it is born of an excess desire for something. It may be of power, wealth, ambition, name, fame, and what not. It brings in its wake tension and unhappiness. But apart from these there are one or two kinds of desires which cannot be summarily rejected as bad. It is what we might term as an excess of desire to be nobly great. We shall discuss this exception to the rule at the end.
The basis of greed is desire but all desires are not greed. To be desire less is to be dull and inactive. Only when our desires are based on base selfish motives, we call it greed. Then we are not satisfied with the fulfilment of our needs. But want to have much more than our needs. We develop a desire to grab and the more we grab the more we become selfish and pound. This passion or excessive desire to have more is greed. A man then becomes shameless and pitiless. He spares none to achieve his end. We can cite some celebrities in whom this greed reached its worst form.
History presents the worst example of greed of power in Hitler. He wished to be the supreme ruler of the world through the foulest method. A similar example of greed of wealth today is Harshad Mehta, of ambition and power Saddam Hussain.
There is a famous proverb, greed begets sin and sin is the cause of death. The above examples bear out the truth of the proverb. Even in normal life greed cause unhappiness, because this fell desire is a suicidal passion. It never rests until its target is achieved. It sets the mind on to invent foul methods. The greed of wealth tempts him to cheat others and to steal. The greed of power tempts him to show his might on the weak and the innocent. It is a proven truth that the greedy fulfil their desires by exploiting the weak, the poor and innocent. He is always afraid of the strong and the alert person. For the latter may resist.
Unwary lays the head that wears a crown. Too much op power or wealth steals away peace of mind. The man is always afraid of robbers and rivals of power. The opposite of greed is contentment. The latter is a spiritual asset for any man. The man remains at rest with himself. But greed multiplies like wild fire. The greedy man cannot afford to rein his desires. Naturally he always remains at the mercy of his dangerous desires. He remains mentally restless and, like a boulder down a hill, goes down committing sin after sin. What can be a more unhappy state that this?
It is now conclusively proved that merely an excess of desire is not greed. A man can suffer from an excess of noble desire. Milton suffered from an ardent desire to write a great epic. Similarly great leaders nurse vehement desires to rise in life. But they do not fall into the category of greed, because these are nourished by healthy and noble intentions. These give strength to the spiritual man, whereas greed generally flatters his material ambition. Therefore have I called greed a full-passion?
9 years ago
Bajirao created new article Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Teenagers .
Drug addiction and alcohol abuse in teenagers are very common all around the world. According to the statistics, there is an increasing use of illicit drugs, around 3 millions are drug addicts. Drug addiction is major problems for many communities and families in India. Cannabis, heroin, hashish and opium are commonly abused drugs. Due to financial costs, lack of availability of services and lack of appropriate care large number of drug addicts are left untreated in India. Hence this has given rise and increased the number of HIV cases in India. Over 2.4 million people are infected with HIV due to drug abuse.
Binge drinking or drinking too much of alcohol is very commonly seen in teenagers. Teenagers are more attracted towards alcohol as they have been always refrained from drinking alcohol until certain age (21 year). Most of them start drinking before the legal age of drinking. Either due to peer pressure or Adrenalin rush to do something new, they are more prone towards alcoholism. Alcohol is not bad for the health however excess drinking of alcohol for longer time is poisonous to the body as it can damage the physical and mental health both.
Some teens try the drugs and alcohol for sometime and then they stop as they are aware about its negative effect on their body, career and life. However some cannot control their urges which leads to alcohol and drug abuse.
Some reasons for alcohol and drug abuse in teenagers
Peer pressure and to fit into the circle - During adolescence stage, teenagers try to figure out what they want to do in their life, most of them are not aware what is right thing to do and what's wrong. Peer pressure, or pressure from their colleagues is very important part in every adolescents life. Some teenagers are way ahead of time and they have tried all kinds of drugs and alcohol by this time. These teenagers pressurize the younger kids to use the drugs and convince them to use it if they want to be a 'cool kid'. Every teenager wants to be a 'cool kid', kid who is in demand. Due to this pressure, many teenagers fall into the trap of drug use. Some of them get out of it easily while some get more and more trapped, with no easy way to get out.
Parents using themselves - Teens are more likely to get involved into drug and alcohol use if their parents are actively involved into these. These children have been seeing their parents all the time using drugs and alcohol hence they tend to use it, also the drugs are easily accessible for these teenagers if parents tend to keep the substances open. Teens assume that if their parents are using the drugs and drinking the alcohol, that means it is not at all bad for the health as well, hence teens are more enticed to use drugs and alcohol.
Unable to cope with mental stress - Many teens have been suffering from mental stress and depression either due to study stress, family problems, personal issues with opposite sex or medical issues making them more vulnerable towards drug and alcohol abuse. Such kids instead of talking to their parents and solving the problem, they decide to take the help of drugs as it keeps them happier and make them forget their problems for time being.
Curiosity to try something new and different - Adolescence is a stage where many new things are introduced into the life. Legal age for drinking alcohol is 21, till then teenagers are not allowed to drink alcohol. This restriction make them more desirable towards it. Being curious in nature, and desire to know how it feels like to get drunk or high, tend them to break all the laws and start drinking earlier than required. If there is no close supervision of parents on their children, then the occasional drinking leads to frequent use and abuse of drugs and alcohol.
To enjoy and have fun - Teenagers are in such a stage where they are growing but with less responsibility. During this stage of life, only aim is to enjoy and have fun with life. Drinking has been all the time easy way to socialize with people and make new friends. Teenagers try drinking alcohol and getting high by using drugs only to socialize with the friends.
What to do if your kid is using alcohol and drugs?
Talk to your kid - Try to openly talk to your kid about these issues. Do not use harsh words or any kind of violence to make your kid speak the truth. Instead politely speak with your kid, assure him/her that you will help to solve the issue. At this point of time, your child don't need a lecture from you, but needs you to understand the problem. Hence talk directly and explain your child how vulnerable and easily influenced teens are at this age.
Ask for help from doctors or specialists - If your kid is already addicted to drugs and alcohol, do not hesitate to ask for help from doctors. Many parents avoid disclosing this issue to anyone, even to doctors as parents has fear of being socially stigmatized. But if parents don't tell the truth, doctors cannot help the child in anyway and medical treatment becomes necessary if child is completely addicted to drugs and alcohol.
How to prevent drug and alcohol use and abuse?
Speak with your kid about substance use and abuse way early than teenage life. Explain them the hazardous effects of these substances on human body, and make them believe that use of these substances are not going to make their life good. You being parent, be open minded, don't hesitate to talk to your kid about it. They are going to know about it from somewhere, they why don't you only start it, that way at least they would be able to make the difference what is right for them and what is wrong.
Involve your child with some activities like outdoor or indoor activities so that they don't get enough ideal time to think about other things. This way they also learn to make use of their time for something good and meaningful.
Know your child's friends. Invite the friends at home so that you would be able to understand them better. Make sure your child's friends are not involved into drugs and alcohol use.
Keep close supervision on your child especially if you are a working parent. Make sure you ask your child about their problems in school and try to solve them.
Give them some space as well. Let them do the way they want, don't always mingle in their life. There should be balance between this. Keep close supervision, but don't show that you are restricting them anyway.
Don't use drugs and excess alcohol in the presence of your child. Parents as well need to stop the use of these substances themselves if they want their child to not get involved and ruin their life. Be like a role model for your child.
Role of parents are very important in every child's life. The values and morals are learned from parents, so teach your child to be morally good person. Most of the parents avoid speaking with their kids as they think its not a right time to talk about it. But talking and expressing your views is the only way to teach the right path to your child. Take a step ahead and talk to your child, let your child learn from you than learning from their 'peers'.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article The thrill of my life .
The term ‘thrill’ includes a mixture of adventure, fear and joy. My experience was of such a nature and in a way unique of its kind.
Our school football team was a notable one. It won many trophies and much reputation. There was only one trophy which it could not lift. It always made up to the final. But the fixture of the tournament used to be prepared in such a fashion that the local team made it to the final. Whatever the team on the opposite side, the local team retained the trophy by hook or by crook.
This time, too, we were in the finals to face the usual opponent. We decided to lift the trophy this time, by fair means or foul. It was a very thrilling experience.
It may be comically termed ‘operation trophy’. We scored a goal in the first half and another in the second half. No less than two other goals were wrongfully given ‘offside’. It became evident that it was a case of committed refereeing. Two penalties were awarded to the opposite side. But our sturdy goalkeeper stood both the penalty kicks. Then the other side ran berserk and injured one of our players.
Hardly fifteen minutes were left when the attention of the crowd in one corner of the field was diverted to a noisy quarrel. It happened to be the side where the trophy and cups were displayed. Unexpectedly our left winger sent the ball out of play on the far side of the field. The noise continued and a short spell was spent to recover the ball. Suddenly the left-winger Mithilesh charged and lifted the main trophy. He was a terrible fast runner. Some others gave him cover. The authorities were at a loss to get a hang of the things for some minutes. Ours, however, was a planned move. The jeep was parked under cover of a big hedge at the most obscure corner of the locality. The trophy, Mithilesh and a couple of players that could be managed were despatched on the jeep that was idling. The escape route was the thinner side of the crowd. The rest of us hid ourselves in an abandoned old and dilapidated/ruined temple. We were six who could be recognized for their jerseys. But it being winter the light had thickened. From the noise outside it became clear that the chase, too, was given up.
We decided to leave by the evening train. But we knew that even that would be searched. Our term manager, Sarvanida, was also a party to our plan. He was a master trickster. He brought out six kits of yellow vests and yellow shorts. We changed into them, smeared on our face yellow dust posing to be pilgrims for Baba-dham (Baidyanath Dham). Sarvanida trained us to chant’ BOL-BOM’ and gave us the ‘danda’ (staff) and the small pitchers.
We spread over the whole train as it was not advisable to move in a group. Our talk or careless remark might raise suspicion. We saw some of the known persons searching us. It was an impossible feat.
We reached home at night. Next morning the adventure was celebrated. Our Headmaster stood by us when the tournament authorities came to complain. He denied that any such trophy was brought to the school.
We recounted for long in future the thrill and risk of the deed. But nothing succeeds like success.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article The "Orgy": A Philosophical Analysis.
The first thing is to understand as to what is an Orgy. It is defined in the dictionary as wild and drunken revelry where guests engage in unrestrained sex. It also is defined as a sexual act with drink where 3 or more persons are involved. The word is derived from the Latin word Orgia and appears to be part of ancient history.
All cults and religious groups have accepted Orgy as a part of their philosophy. The ancient Greeks and Romans laid special stress on it and had vivid and colorful rituals that were supposed to give divine guidance. The advent of Christianity saw the Orgy being regarded as "evil". The act did not die away, but only it was attributed to the Devil.
Hinduism is an enigma and though the word orgy is not used, yet practically it was accepted by Hinduism and forms a part of Tantra sex. This is enunciated in what is known as a Puja session in Tantra when men and women congregate in a circle with men changing places, while women remain seated. One is free to indulge in close and carnal contact and is supposed to bring great benefit to the planet and the participants. There is however a subtle difference as unlike the ancient concept of drink and revelry, in Hindu Tantra philosophy, wine and drink are not taken.
I attended my first orgy in Russia as a young subaltern. I say first as I had only one other experience and that was in the Ashram of Rajneesh. Even Swami Shraddhanand conducted such tantric rituals and though I was his follower, I never was part of these rituals.
On my umpteen visits to Russia, I had my only experience of a orgy, when my Russian girl friend suggested it. I was intrigued and went. In all there were 3 couples and we made the fourth. Was it satisfying? No, I am afraid not, I perhaps never got over my inhibitions after some time just went to sleep. I realized that an orgy cannot be 'staged' and needs a deeper spiritual connotation.
The Greeks and even earlier the Jews considered an Orgy an essential part or ritual of their life. No taboo was attached to it. There is an excellent scene of an orgy filmed in the movie " Solomon and Sheba" that starred Gina Lolobrigida and Yul Brynner. One can download the movie from the net and watch it.
My next encounter was when I was posted to Lohegaon, the airbase at Pune. Air Force orders at that time forbade membership of cults and groups. I was unaware of this order and so visited this ashram. I also once met Rajneesh in Bombay. In due course I attended one of his meditation sessions in a room with about a dozen participants. Here the atmosphere was electric and I felt magic was in the air. Out of the 6/7 women 2 were Indian. I can say the session lasted about 3/4 hours with meditation and unrestrained cohabitation. It was the most elevating experience of my life and I can only say that it was an experience to remember. I never went again as my CO, who came to know about it forbade it. So that was the end of my essay with the ashram. Later when was commanding the heli-unit at Mumbai, I used to attend the ashram of Swami Shraddhanand at Bassein Road close to Bombay, but though aware of his tantric rituals never attended his sessions.
A look back at history and one can see that an Orgy has been part of man's life since ages. It certainly had a sexual connotation, but the overall aim of these sexual orgies was to connect with the divine. Though later Christianity turned a puritan leaf, the fact of sexual energy and its connection with the divine is something that needs deep study. It is an advanced state of the mind, a realm above the thinking of an average human being. It is only Hinduism with its concept of tantra and path to salvation and enlightenment that accepted this concept. Islam also accepts this, but in a more earthy way, by bringing in a practical aspect.
What are the arguments against an orgy? Firstly it cannot be practiced by the masses as people are by and large so weighted down with mundane problems that such a philosophy remains restricted. Obviously it is practiced only by the affluent and people who can spare some time. as all such activities are time consuming. But this does not detract from its benefits, if carried out under the guidance of a guru and the aim is not just sensual pleasure. In my first encounter, it was just sensual plasure that took me to an orgy, but the episode with Acharya Rajneesh ashram was elevating and believe me, I felt close to the supernatural.
One fact does stand out that even during ancient times Orgies were conducted only at night and were by invitation only. Common people were not invited to it. Perhaps there is a mystery about it. Even now in England orgies do take place, but they are secretive affairs. The most celebrated orgies were conducted by Dr Ward in the early fifties in England. They were secret affairs and certainly did not follow the philosophy as enunciated in the Tantra. This was wrong and Dr. ward was arrested, though on a different matter. In India, the Aghori clan still indulges in such orgies as they pray to Kaal Bhairav, the fierce manifestation of Shiva.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article The greatest sense of fulfilment of real happiness .
Happiness is a kind of joy; it is a state of the mind. There are many kinds of happiness. A child becomes happy when he/she gets a toy. A scientist becomes happy when he discovers his desired object. Similarly a poet or a writer becomes happy when he is able to put across his feeling or his ideas to his readers.
From the above account it becomes clear that happiness is a kind of mental satisfaction. Now the question is what its constituents are.
Firstly, the basic constituent of happiness is desire or want. A passive mind that does not react or respond to life’s experience feels no happiness either. The opposite of happiness is sorrow. Even sorrow is a constituent of happiness. It may sound like a paradox. But those who experience sorrows in life also have desire. They are not colourless like the passive soul.
The second important constituent is intelligence. A dull person can never be happy in life. A dull child shall only cry for something it likes. But an intelligent one shall use his weapons or instruments of shouting, crying innocent craft to please others to obtain his object.
Intelligence is a chief constituent of the mind and happiness is doubtless a state of the mind. It is never an attribute of the senses. The senses give us pleasure. We are pleased to enjoy, but when we are happy the object becomes a thing of the mind. The sweet smell of the rose please our olfactory sense, but when we enjoy it, it becomes a thing of the mind, and then we feel happy even when we do not smell it. John Keats said, ’A thing of beauty is a joy for ever’. The joy here is that of the mind. It is a kind of happiness.
It should, however, be borne in mind that real happiness springs from noble desires and intentions. Human intelligence can work both ways. A thief or a cheat also can obtain his desired object by applying his intelligence. But that brings in its wake a kind of tension for the mind. But a noble or innocent desire being achieved, it brings to the mind quiet and healthy satisfaction. It is a kind of contentment that is true or real happiness.
Thus the third constituent of ‘real happiness’ is purity of desire or pursuit. Here the epithet ‘real’; implies lasting and durable.
Spiritual happiness is also a kind of joy of the super mind. It is concerned with something that is on a higher plane than mere intelligence.
Lastly, to conclude, the real index of happiness is order, not chaos. Its chief function is to bring order to a disturbed mind. The beauty of a ‘happy’ soul is a fine balance in which it lives. It prevents the revolt of the senses and keeps them in perfect harmony. It is noticeable in all the categories of human being, whether it is in politics, art, literature or social reforms. It shall be a vain effort to seek it in pride, love of wealth or ambition. The latter are pleasures of the senses, whereas real happiness is a virtue of the mind.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article The Royal Navy Base at Scapa Flow in Scotland.
When I was in service I had the opportunity to visit the UK. I had never been to Scotland and when a friend, a RAF officer suggested we visit Scapa Flow a Royal Naval base of great importance in Scotland during the two world wars, I accepted. We reached the base and stayed two days at the Officers Mess of the RN. The base is no longer having the importance it once had, but it remains a historical entity. One can locate the sunken warships and also see the coastal batteries now old and not in use.
The base was developed in the early part of the 20th century. It is a natural harbor and its importance lies in the fact that it had outlets to both the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. Within a short time the base became very important and a great part of the Royal Navy Fleet was anchored at this base.The basic aim of Scapa Flow was to counter the German Navy which was growing in strength under the Emperor Wilhelm Kaiser. The German high Sea fleet was aware of this base and had plans to destroy it with submarines.
It is recorded that the Scapa Flow naval base was the safest of the Royal Navy's bases. No submarine could penetrate inside the protected area of the harbor, due to a system of undersea steel nets. A few which tried got entangled and were sunk. Due to the heavy defenses, it was not possible for a surface ship to approach the base. The Coastal guns can still be seen, mute spectators to a past era. Only one ship was ever lost in the harbor and that was not due to enemy action, but an internal explosion. The battleship HMS Vanguard exploded and sank taking with 845 sailors to a watery grave.
The base covers a massive area of over a 100 square miles. it is a sobering thought now to realize that the base was home to over 150 warships of the Royal Navy including 30 Dreadnaughts. Now let me tell readers that during World war I, the Dreadnaught was the most lethal of the heavy warships.
Scapa Flow made history as the Royal Navy Fleet of nearly a 150 war ships sailed out to confront the German fleet in the famous battle of Jutland. This is the biggest surface naval battle in the history of naval warfare. The German fleet had close to 99 ships. In numbers the British fleet was bigger, but the Germans had precision gunners and both fleets confronted each other in the icy waters of the North Sea. In a battle spread over days both sides claimed victory, but the British lost more ships than the German fleet. But the important point is that the German fleet could not break the stranglehold of the British fleet and had to retreat back to German ports.
After the end of World war I, the Treaty of Versailles( 1919) was signed. As per the terms of this treaty 74 warships of the German fleet were captued by the English and they brought them to Scapa Flow. The commander of the German Flotilla was Admiral Von Reutor. He took a far reaching decision along with his senior commanders. This was an act of great secrecy and the Royal Navy were not aware of it. When the British fleet was out for an exercise, Von Reutor gave the order to scuttle the German warships. The aim was to deny use of the ships to the Royal Navy. He was successful and he was able to scuttle 52 ships, which sank in the harbor.
Once the scuttling process started, Royal Navy seamen armed with weapons boarded the ships and were able to save about 20 ships, but 52 sank in the ocean. Many ships were on fire and sank slowly. Nothing could be done about them.
Now close to a 100 years have elapsed, but the German Ships can still be seen with a guide as they lie on the bed of the harbor. I travelled with a gude and had a look at the submerged ships, some of their masts are just above the sea and visible to all. Von Reutor was successfull in denying use of the German fleet to the Royal Navy.
The base was also used in WWII, but it had reduced importance and after WWII, the base lost its importance as the threat was from Russia. Now only a skeleton service mans the base which at one time was the most important base of the Royal Navy. Visiting Scapa Flow is a pleasure and I will recommend all, to visit this base when visiting Scotland.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article The most useful subject for future.
Fortunately the answer calls for no special thinking, as it is too evident. I think that the subject is at everyone’s finger tip and it is computer, both hardware and software.
It is today almost unavoidable. The future lies with it. But I have certain reservations.
The device which is becoming a human substitute is in its teething time. Being a global phenomenon it comes up every day with new samples of its potential. I observe that our generation is in a state of committing itself to it up to the neck. It can achieve assured result and an increasing degree of perfection faster. It has invaded the world of art and craft, anatomy, physiology and bio-science and has set new milestones of success and achievement.
Naturally it imposes itself upon anyone with an extreme urgency. Personally I want to mark it play second fiddle to my passion. I have a passion for zoology, which I want to adopt at my future career. The world of the fauna interests me much. The national geographic channel in the TV every day initiates me into the mysterious habits, responses and behaviours of the wild variety of creatures from the grasshopper to the lions and tigers. It inspires or inflames imagination. I notice how explorers of knowledge poach in their territory at night collecting data. The computer software device can arrange these data; sort them and device new possibilities of development. But it can do only what compares its purview, its limited potential. The human mind, I think, is comparatively a more unlimited phenomenon.
As such the computer can never replace the human potential. It is a mechanical contraption that house brain modules, one might say. Naturally it is an always in a state of flux; what avails today may be defunct tomorrow. It has to play second fiddle to human quest. I believe that its utility lies in playing a complementary role in the Great Quest which is the chief haul mark of the millennium. We see how it’s of the speed of human thinking, research and explanation. The computer with its novel technique has hastened new discoveries.
Thus the computer is unavoidable as a subject unless one loves to rot in a rut. But the question remains. Shall it not partially cripple the god-gifted human abilities for the coming generation in distant future?
9 years ago
Shampa Sadhya created new article 4 Ways to Write a Unique Write-Up to avoid Plagiarism.
To produce a unique write-up we must remember that there are four important factors of writing which basically do not only possess a strong independent identity in creative writing rather these are very much interlinked to each other too. It would be better to say that these factors of writing are simply like human beings. People need to deliver in their lifetime as individual personalities along with the relationships they share with other beings to have a successful life. On the whole, the life of a person is a product of various combinations so is the case with our writing.
We can churn out a unique piece of writing only when we interlink the main four aspects of writing: originality, language, content and last but not the least editing/proofreading. Working upon all these four factors of writing automatically shuns the cheapest, the unwanted and the unethical writing skill called plagiarism.
If we strictly follow this pattern of writing then there will be no need to cross-check our own writing piece regarding plagiarism.
1.Be Original: Let us keep ourselves simply original. Who else can speak a writer’s mind? Just no one can do so other than the individual himself or herself who has the ability to put forth the viewpoint which is going through one’s own mind very distinctly. It is simply impossible and absurd for anyone to present an original thought of others. It may seem to be very similar in opinion or language but the final outcome can’t beat the sanctity of the original writer’s thought process as well as the method of presentation. As writers we must have faith in ourselves that we have the capability to pen down our thoughts, naturally then, the originality will definitely show up in our piece of writing which will make it entirely uncommon because pieces of writing which seem very common directly point towards plagiarism.
2.Proper Language: Having an original idea does not finish a writer’s job. The written material has to reach the readers so we have to put it on a sheet of paper either manually or electronically. Thus, language becomes the need of the hour. Certainly, then, a good grasp of language in whichever language we are to write is a must. There is no need to write in an ornamental language, it can be written in a very simple and straight forward language but we must keep in mind that mistake in grammar and in spelling should be avoided. A write-up with full of such mistakes cannot make an impact on the readers in spite of having a strong content. If this happens then the effort goes wasted.
3.Meaningful Content: Every write-up has its own value. It cannot be weighed on the basis of the category of the content. That means a write-up can be based upon a very personal experience, related to current affairs, entertainment, political review, health, fashion, lifestyle and anything under the sky. The importance of any write-up is based upon the reader’s mindset and subject of interest. The demand of articles, essays or blogs may vary from time to time according to the taste of the readers but in no way any written material can be devalued in the context of another write-up. That means a political article has its own taker while the health conscious people or those who are fond of cooking will go for health articles and recipes respectively and similar will be the case with the articles of any other category.
Actually, the most important point that we must keep in mind is, the content must be meaningful. It must be qualitatively rich that which can add some value to the reader’s mind. It is a proven fact that content is the king so no write-up can make an everlasting impact upon the readers without a valuable content. Thus, the writer’s should be very particular about choosing the subject-matter and there comes the importance of personal knowledge and reference or research work. Unless and until the writer is confident about the subject on what one is about to write should not try his writing skill on it. The write-up will ultimately end up as a farcical attempt because of the lack of clarity in one’s thought process due to a weak weaving of its content. It may even lead to an assumption that it’s a plagiarized post which will not serve the purpose of writing.
4.Editing/Proof reading: What will we edit? We can edit only when we have written something and that’s the reason this point comes as the fourth point but don’t assume it to be the least important of the four ways to create a unique write-up. In reality editing/proof reading gives the write-up a final structure. In absence of it the write-up may contain lots of grammatical errors, spelling mistakes as well as lack the expression that’s required for a write-up. A proper editing/proof reading helps in fixing all the errors and also sets the mood of the write-up which in exchange enhances the quality of the final output in manifolds. So, no one can ignore this point because the writer cannot afford to lose his/her credibility.
We write but we are readers too so when we play the role of a reader then we never appreciate a write-up with lots of mistakes. Such write-ups dissatisfy us a lot and we switch over to another one so if our creations are full of errors then the readers will treat them in the same manner. Keeping this in mind we must give proper importance to editing/proof reading and while practising this we must be very careful. Even the readers may consider our articles and blogs as pieces of plagiarism if they contain errors after errors. It's so because the readers become doubtful about the writer's competence and consider the write-up as a copied work. Editing/proof reading is similar to fine tuning or garnishing a dish which makes the presentation worth reading and to a great extent is a road to success.
Be yourself is the winning tip for every writer. The writing style differs from writer to writer that means some maybe a very ordinary writer, some mediocre while others maybe a very extraordinary as well as quite ornamental writer. The fan following will vary on the basis of a writer’s calibre but still even the simplest of writer can survive in the world of writing only when the author follows the golden four rules which are mentioned above. Thus, what are you waiting for? Express your creative and imaginative skill in writing and reach out to your readers but remember the write-up has to be original, written in proper language, contain a strong content and must go through revisions after revisions to have a properly edited piece of writing. That's how an article, blog or any write-up will be free from plagiarism and will stand tall as one and only of its kind.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article Cigarette smoking in public place should not be allowed.
Prima facie the proposition appears to be very innocent but it is not so in reality. In underscores some fallacies. I do not intend to contradict it, but I support it with certain reservations.
Smoking has been an ingrained habit in men from days immemorial. Like many other habits it has remained a part of human life in companies and groups, in solitude, in thinking, in idle hours, before and after dinner. To chuck it through a fiat or command like as proposed in our subject above, will be a bit cruel.
Today, however, its consumption shows a remarkable decline. Fatal diseases like cancer and cardiac or cerebral strokes have struck terror in the hearts of men. Men are today more enlightened in matters concerning health. It must, however, be acknowledged that the mortality rate owing to fatal diseases is not simply due to smoking. Tensions, malnutrition, hectic having and lack of physical engagements largely contribute to it.
Thus human life, as such, has becomes susceptible to diseases and cigarette smoking hastens the decimation. The towns and the cities team with overloaded buses. Naturally smoking becomes hazardous for the passengers. A recent theory holds that a non-smoker is more susceptible to cigarette smokes that a smoker. A smoker’s internal combative force is more adjusted to its hazards, whereas it is not so with the non-smoker. Naturally the latter is more likely to fall prey to its bad effect easily enough.
The regulatory system has mounted a mock-warning to a smoker as every packet stares him with “cigarette smoking is injurious to health“. Every fag that he smokes forbids him to indulge in it. It is doubtless that such measures gradually induce in the smokers an awareness of the harm. There are surveys which show that the incidence of smoking is today much less. In the public places there are smoking corners.
As stated earlier, smoking has been ever a boon companion for men. To part with is observed, often, to be a painful experience. It helps thinking in men, serves as a delightful diversion to chain smokers who make a tunnel of smoke-rings. Naturally it dies hard. Prohibition of public smoking often places the sinner at a disadvantage. They would slink off from the midst of gathering or elders to act on the sly.
Its history says that it has served men in distress or moments of emotional tension as a relief. Today, however, its evil effect is of going to banish it. I have seen a chain smoker who had to give up smoking being warned by death. Every now and then his hand fished into his trousers pocket in a reflex action.
Thus the proposition has to be supported no doubt. And today cigarette smoking in public place is regarded as an unwritten offence. But it is like the banishment of a onetime dear friend who has turned rebel suddenly.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article Health and Wellness: Are they Synonmous?.
Health and wellness are two words that to many appear to be the same thing. However there is a subtle difference between the two. An added factor that is closely linked with these two words is sex. In India sex is a taboo world now, but there was a time when it was not so and India was the most enlightened nation in the world. One reason for this is that sex in Indian philosophy is intricately linked with religion and is also one of the roads to Moksha or slavation.
Health and wellness are not synonmous. This is a general statement. One can define and say that health is the opposite of ill-health and wellness is the opposite of illness. This can be confusing but in reality it is not so. One can say that both are interlinked, but it is possible that a man may have good health but does not have wellness.
Health is comparatively simple and means that a man is free from illlness. Wellness is a little more complex. To understand this one must delve a little more. A factor that is now accepted is that the common denominator that aids both health and wellness is sex. This has nothing to do with marriage, but a urge to mate with a woman married or not.
Two Indian sages of a bygone era namely Patanjali and Charaka( both circa 2nd century BC) have given us an insight on wellness. Perhaps that is the reason that Baba Ramdev is using the name Patanjal on his products that help bring about wellness. What do thes etwo erudite sages say?
Patanjali says that wellness means that a human being is liberated in life, liberated from pain both mental and physical,liberation from disease and the ability to mate with a woman even 3/4 decades younger. Charka, who is less well known says that wellness is a condition of the body where there is no room from illness. He means immunity from all diseases. As per him wellness is related not only to the body but the mind and soul as well. Wellness is a body condition and sex is a part of it and is the greatest rejuvenator.
Both sages had a clear insight of human beings and life in this world. What they have stated holds true even today and modern doctors have vouchsafed the truth of what both Patanjali and Charka have stated. Good health is not enough incase you do not have the factor of wellness. Many people in good health are unable to enjoy the wonder of life as they are mentally overburdened and unable to free themselves. One opening for a release and liberation is meditiation and prayer. Another method is Tantra sex. This is another form of penance and means that orgasm is not the goal, but just a milestone to the higher echelons of the mind.
The WHO( World Health Organization) has defined health as not only the absence of illness, but includes the wellness of the human being. It covers a whole lot of things like lifestyle, enviornment, relation with women( sex) and living conditions. This defination is vast and implies that people who live with poor sanitation, lack of drinking water, poor eating habits, lack of food cannot have a feeling of wellness. It will also affect their health.
Sadly all the above are applicable to India, for this is the country where we live and are obviously concerned about. Is it not a matter of sadness that 50% of the population have no toilets and live more like animals. In figures this works out to some 650 million people. I think this is a shame and then a basic amenity like drinking water is not there in 50-60% of the villages. Gandhi had said India lives in its villages, yet I am afraid he was just a wily politician and there is no campaign started by him for hygiene in villages.Did Gandhi ever concern himself in educating people particularly the villagers about proper excretion of waste products? Frankly he was a sham. These are harsh words, but one has to call a spade a spade. After 7 decades it is only Modi who thought of it.
The ancient Indian sages had clear concepts of health and wellness. As I have said sex is the common denominator for both. For the average man it is important to understand that a regressive and self denial approach in life can affect your wellness. Wellness has many pillars and mediatation, pranayama,Yogic exercises with sexual release can greatly contribute to wellness and by corollory good health. I think this is where Acharya Rajneesh made a significant contribution. He advocated a lack of inhibtion. In any case he stated nothing new, as all what he said or wrote is part of ancient Hindu scriptures.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article How Ronald Reagan Broke the " Evil Empire" the USSR.
Ronald Reagan was President of America at a critical time in world history. He was a Hollywood actor early in his life, but entered politics and won the presidential election in 1980. He was the 40th President of the USA and held the office of president from 1981-89. Reagan served the permissible 2 terms as President. These were tumultuous years as during his period in power, he formulated a concerted plan that led to the USSR being dismantled. Reagan always referred to the Soviet Union as the Evil Empire and considered it an anachronsm in world history.
Once Reagon became president he reversed the policy of previous US presidents, which was containment of the Soviet Union and detente to one of aggressive and proactive oppostion to the Soviet Union and the areas controlled by them. He had a one point plan, which he confided to his Security Advisor " we win, they lose". In fact in an address to the British parliament in 1983, he grandly announced that he had a plan that will send communism to the dustbin of history. If I remember correctly the term he used was " ash heap of history".
A look at how the earlier presidents reacted to the Soviet Union can be educative. President Truman had his first brush with communism during the Berlin Blockade(1948) and the KoreanWar( 1950-53). He wanted to just fight Communism, but failed as the USA gained nothing in the wars under Truman. The next President Ike Eishenhower decided to ring the Soviet Union with bases and pacts. His sole aim was to contain Communism. John Kennedy badly burnt his fingers during the Cuba crisis in 1962 and his successor Johnson decided the best way to oppose communism was by pacts and proactive war like Vietnam. He failed. It was followed by Jimmy Carter who never realized the true nature of Communism and decided on detente. It was only Reagon who made a one pont plan to destry the USSR and he knew that economic way was the best way as the USSR could not economically compete with USA.
Reagan had conviction and he was convinced the Soviets could not match the arms race with the USA. He was confident that any attempt to match the US arms would seriously affect the Soviet economy. Reagan thus authorised a arms buildup and the Soviets had no choice but to try and match the Americans. This strained the Soviet economy, which could not match the US arms buildup and as Reagan had envisaged cracks began to appear in the Soviet Empire.
Reagan actively began a support of all groups opposed to the Soviet Union. In this he also took the help of General Zia ul Haq who coordinated the US response to the Soviets in Afghanistan. The Soviet economy could not sustain the war in Afghanistan. Reagan also persuaded Saudi Arabia to increase oil production, leading to a oil glut in the market. Prices came down and the Soviets suffered the most as oil exports was the main source of Russian income. With dwindling income the Soviets could not sustain the military expenditure, resulting in the economy cracking.
Reagan also authorized all out support to anti Soviet rebels anywhere in the world. The USA also stepped up support to the East Europeans under Soviet control. It became a difficult time for the Soviets and with Leonid Brezhnev passing away, no comparable Soviet leader was available to lead the Soviet Union.
The Russian economy began to stagnate and when the Russians shot down a Korean jetliner in 1983, the American response unnerved the Soviet Union. Reagan ordered the Able Archar 83 exercise and the Russians feared a nuclear attack by the USA. Reagan also removed the pro-communist regime in Grenada and more important tightened the screws on transfer of technology to the Russians and their Eastern bloc.
Reagon was proved right. He had forecast the destruction of the Evil Empire and by the time he left the presidency, the eastern bloc had broken from the Soviet Union and the Berlin wall had come down. This was Reagans achievement and was a tribute to his one point plan to finish off the Soviet Union. His judicious support of Boris Yeltsin at a critical moment against Gorbochov, was a master stroke.
Communism would have collpased anyway in Russia, but the process was hastened by the policies of Reagan. In this he got the support of Margret Thatcher of the UK. Reagan was never thought of as good presidential material, like Trump is these days, but when in power he surprised all and sundry. He changed the earlier presidents policy from containment of Soviet Russia to confrontation and made the economic plans to break the Soviet economy. Now many Americans feel he was a good president. However he left behind some muck, which incubated after he left and led to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. Perhaps Reagan should have been a little more caeful in trusting Zia ul Haq and the Afghan Mujahaddin.
Reagan is dead and gone and the Soviet Union is history. The evil empire has been dismantled, but America faces another and greater danger with the rise of an Islamic dream of Caliphate. Whether Trump will win and emulate Reagan is a toss up. However by November we will know where America is headed.
9 years ago
Dr. Simran Kaur created new article 2 Things Present in Instant Noodles, which make it a Health Hazard Food.
Instant noodles of which ever company, vary on some ingredients, vary on taste; but, all of them have some basic ingredients, which are health hazard; in fact, they are the root cause, which make instant noodles a health hazard. Some instant noodles have, these health harming ingredients, in less quantity and some in more quantity. Depending on that quantity meter, the health harming meter differs. So question is, what are harms of these health harming ingredients, which are found common in different instant noodles; but vary in proportion?
Well they are-
1) Wax-
Yes, that much wax is used, to make instant noodles that a human cannot digest, in one day. It needs days of approximately 7 in row, to digest that much wax; which is used to make instant noodles. Any food remaining undigested, for 7 days in stomach, would make nothing else; but impairs digestion. But, why that much wax is used to make instant noodles? What is purpose of using that much amount? Can't instant noodles be made without it? Well, it is used to maintain elongated non-sticky shape of, instant noodles; after cooking them. Because, if it is not used; then instant noodles will come out broken, into small pieces; sticked to each other, after cooking. As, I said, its amount vary with different companies; that's reason, why some instant noodles are some what sticky and some are not sticky at all; which are totally un-sticky, they are much tastier. So, for taste, you are paying price of instant noodles, remaining in your stomach for 7 days; impairing your digestion.
2) Refined flour-
Yes, no doubt wheat flour based instant noodles called as, "attat noodles" have come in market; but, still market is flooded with, refined flour based instant noodles because they are much tastier than wheat flour based and public purchase tastier one more. So, based on purchase, refined one are found more, in market. But, why refined flour is used, to make instant noodles and what is its harm? Refined flour makes cooking process of, instant noodles fast; whereas wheat flour based instant noodles, take more time to cook. And fast food is called fast because it get consumed fast and cooked fast. But, again for fast cooking, you have to pay price of nutrient lack; in refined flour based, instant noodles because refined flour contains, no nutrients whereas wheat flour contains essential nutrients; power packed in it, it is not like nutrient lacking refined flour.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article There are three types of person in this world.
cThe epigram that is the core of the subject is too true to be denied. But yet, when I put it to my personal life, I fail to equate the statement with my life. The situation underlines a paradox.
On the face of it, I fall into the second category of the won’ts’ whereas my parents committed me to be the third category of the can’ts’. But I am neither; nay, I am both. Mark how.
I am the only son of my parents and I have a brother six years my senior. My brother has a good and straight academic record, but I have none. I have little interest in study and career, and almost no musical voice.
Being a son, I must have some quality to recommend myself. If a boy, I could run a shop or be put in some good concern writing ledgers. But for me marriage is a must. I am thrust into a class, prodded with texts. But my temperament won’t accept either the texts that repel it or my teacher who becomes more and more cross every day. My brother’s smooth sailing career throws into greater relief my worthlessness as a child of my parents. My father gets me a harmonium. But after some initial attempts, I feel bored with the instrument. I won’t sit with the exercise-lessons daily, as told by my music teacher. This won’ts often created a row in the family. As I grew in age I could often here my parents quarrelling, I being the topic. They discussed about my perverse nature. Mother would charge father that he ought to spare some of his hours of card-playing and teach me. Father being a good card player, it touched him to the quick. He would charge back in reply that she too can spare some of her idle gossips to make me sit with the harmonium. This often caused an unpleasant quarrel.
But, unfortunately, none of my parents bothered to probe what is my ‘will’. By chance, one day I was caught unaware by my father’s friend who is a professional painter. This passion was my strongpoint. But I painted secretly as I thought that it would be condemned by my parents. Not only they; it is a general rule with parents that they discourage those bents in their children that do not fall in line with their ideas. My artist-elder, whom I call uncle, was amazed to see my paintings. My father being out, he spent some time with me, sorting through my works, which were not less in number.
This event broke the ice. At his instance I bagged some coveted district distinctions in painting competitions. Subsequently I secured my admission in the fine arts department in the Shantiniketan. And now I am pet tingly reckoned as one among the ‘wills’.
Naturally the posed epigram in the question can never have a cut-and dried answer. It is extremely difficult to put human beings into water-tight categories.
9 years ago
Reena created new article Science Behind Food Rituals.
It is well known to all of us that food, shelter and clothing are considered to be essential commodities in everyone's life. They are the basic needs and one ought to have them. In their absence, life becomes difficult and uneasy. Among food, shelter and clothing, food takes the number one spot and it becomes most essential commodity for survival. It is necessity of life and no one can imagine a life in its absence. Body requires fuel to produce energy and this energy is essential to do work. Food acts as a fuel which will produce energy. It fulfills nutritional requirements of body. Body requires lots of different nutrients in different amount for its well functioning. Some of them are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins etc..... Food consumed helps body to carry out all its functions properly by supplying required nutrition in adequate amount. This time to time replenishment of all the nutrients help body to work efficiently.
Food is always considered to be very essential for our well being and thus since ancient times it is compared to God. God looks after all our activities and helps us to carry forward our lives by blessing us with enough strength and courage. Similarly, food too provides energy and heat essential for us to do work and remain healthy. Such is the importance of food in our lives. Thus, out of respect, we make efforts not to waste it and utilize it to the fullest. Poor and needy who are often deprived of food can be best served if we offer them something to eat. This is considered to be the best service one can ever provide. Feeding hungry and quenching the thirst of thirsty is like serving God. In human society, there has always been special customs and traditions practiced since ancient times with respect to obtaining and consuming food. They followed traditional rituals to consume pure and rich-energy food for healthy living. These traditions that we are following since ancient times which are related to food are not only important from aspect of spirituality and provide mental contentment but also well accepted scientifically today. Thus, if today's generation who are non believers in traditional practices and consider them to be old and of non importance should understand that they all of them have a scientific purpose behind them. We were told to practice them without actually been told the purpose behind them. Thus, we did not find it acceptable and started moving away from our traditional practices. However, now we have to understand the meaning and purpose behind these practices and there by we will find them easy to follow.
We are what we eat. Thus, right from ancient times, man has given lots of importance with regard to preparation before cooking, while cooking food and then consuming it. Place where food has to be cooked should be clean, free from any microbes or dirt. Not only the area has to be clean, environment should be pure. Purity should not only be taken in physical aspect. Today most of us buy clean, fresh produce of fruits and vegetables, clean grains and cereals, give importance to maintaining cleanliness in our kitchen and dining area. However, this is just not enough. All these things are very important. Right from ancient era importance was given to cook fresh produce. It was a pollution free era and thus they easily obtained every thing that was pure and fresh. All their produce in farm were free of insecticides and harmful pesticides. Grains and cereals they obtained were all free from adulteration. Today, however we struggle to get such products. Organic products are available but are way more expensive than our pockets can afford. People from ancient era knew the importance of freshness and healthy living. They cooked in pollution free environment and area was clean and tidy. The whole environment was pure both physically and spiritually. The person who cooked food use to chant spiritual mantras or sing devotional songs or think positive thoughts. As each thought radiates and spreads around easily, thus positive vibrations would easily get radiated and the food that was being cooked also would acquire it. That food was when consumed by others would instill in them same amount of positive vibrations. However, today we all give more importance to maintaining cleanliness outside rather than inside. We purchase clean and fresh products, cook and dine in clean area but how pure is the environment in which we cook and dine. First and foremost the environment around us is completely polluted from outside and our internal environment too is not very pure. We often cook in hustle-bustle and stress. We may try our best to make it as healthy and as tasty as we can but still we suffer from ill-health. This is because our thought were not right. We while cooking or serving or even while eating were not calm and stress free and thus food we prepared too carried same sort of vibrations and this food when consumed by others then they too received the same sort of vibrations. Thus, we need to learn not only regarding the importance of maintaining cleanliness and purity outside but also regarding maintaining cleanliness and purity inside.
Earlier when the food was been prepared, first it was offered to God and then it was served to everyone in the family. Now some can consider it to be just a practice where tradition is involved but it has scientific meaning behind it. When food is served to God, each and every person creates positive thoughts in their mind. It makes them internally pure. These positive vibrations spread around and the food consumed in such a peaceful, positive environment is high in energy and very helpful to the body. It becomes rich in energy and far more beneficial than the food which is been consumed in environment which is full of stress and tension. Such food hardly gets digested and is no way beneficial to the body.
Earlier people would practice a few more traditions related to food. Once food was offered to God, it was served to everyone in the family. Before consuming it, each and everyone in the family would chant spiritual mantras which were high in energy and would practice certain rituals related to food and water like keeping a portion of food from their plate aside for offering it to cow and all these practices consumed 3-5 minutes. Now from scientific point of view, these rituals again created high positive energy in body which will aid in efficient digestion which in turn will extract maximum nutrients from the food which will bless them with good health. Another thing is within this duration of 3-5 minutes, when rituals were been carried out the smell and sight of food triggers salivary gland to produce lots of saliva. As we all know, digestion first begins in the oral cavity and saliva is essential as it aids in digestion. In this way, lots of saliva excreted mixes up easily with the food that is been consumed and would ensure proper and complete digestion. Another fact is since food is first offered to God, an individual consumes it in the form of prasad and this feeling will make him enjoy food. It will taste at its best and will be high in energy.
Earlier eating together was a tradition that was very commonly followed in each and every family. Each and every one in family would get together and consume their food. This feeling of togetherness instills lots of positive vibrations in the environment. It brings contentment and a feeling is instilled in each and everyone that they are not lonely and in times of happiness and sadness others are there for them. However, today this tradition is no longer followed in our society. Time is an issue which often comes in between as a hurdle to carry out this tradition. All the members of the family follow a different time schedule as per the timing of their schools, colleges or offices. Thus, nobody has the time or patience to wait for others and eat together. Hardly one can see existence of joint families today and if there exists any then all of them follow their separate pattern of life styles. Even in nuclear families which comprise of hardly 3-4 members, it is seen that members of family do not eat together. Scientific purpose behind eating together is love and compassion that we get from elderly members of our family as well as of those around us and this instills positive vibrations in us and as the amount of purity and pure thoughts increases in an individual, it exerts positive effects on his digestive system.
Earlier not only care was taken to prepare and serve food in pure and clean environment, care was also taken that while food is consumed, everyone is at peace both internally and externally. As soon as one would sit to begin eating their food they would leave their work aside and concentrate only on food. Even they would never create a thought about their pending work or difficulties they are going through. Thus, stress was not created in them and they would remain at peace both internally and externally. However, today we all live a stressful life. We do not have time for ourselves as well as we do not have time for our family. We even while consuming our meals, work on something. If we are not working then either we are playing games, using mobile phones or watching television. Thus, most of our attention is towards these equipment's. Even internally we go through a lot of chaos. We constantly keep creating thoughts about the work that we have to complete and regarding other issues in life which are bothering us since a long time. This creates a lot of stress and tension within an individual. It is been proved scientifically that the food which is consumed in peaceful and stress-free environment is very easily as well as effectively digested when compared to food that is being consumed during stress which gets hardly digested and most of it is excreted unused.
People in earlier times would follow a strict timetable of eating. They made sure that they ate every meal of theirs at fixed timings. This helped a lot in digestion. If we are feeding our digestive system at fixed time everyday, it gets designed to do its work timely. Improper amount and untimely feeding will disturb its efficiency to do work. This is what is happening today. We do not have time to feed ourselves and thus we go for fast foods which are very small in portion size as well as lack in nutrition. We sometimes eat early whereas other times delay eating. Follow an eating pattern which suits our work schedule. This creates lots of acid production in stomach which is responsible for acidity and heart burn. Lots of stomach related disorders and diseases too are seen commonly. We need to follow a strict timing of feeding ourselves no matter how busy we are or no matter how fast our lives are running forward in this hustle-bustle environment.
Earlier people would follow a healthy diet which was full of nutrition. They would consume lots of fruits, raw vegetables. They would include sprouts in their diet. Dairy and dairy products were given lots of importance. Thus their meal was a complete as well as rich as it was full of nutrients. Their daily nutrient requirement their body demanded would be very easily met by their diet itself and required no extra supply of nutrients in the form of capsules. They suffered from no sort of nutritional deficiency. However, today our diet lacks nutrition and our body lacks health. We do not eat a complete meal. We go for fast foods and unhealthy deep fried foods which may be rich in taste but lack nutrition. We eat unhealthy and live a very unhealthy life style. This has affected our health.
Today science has proved that we need to wash our hands and legs before consuming meals. Hands need to be cleaned properly and thoroughly as they come in contact with food that we are going to consume. Any dirt or dust present on it will enter our body and will become a matter of concern to us. On the other hand, microbes present on our hands enter our body and causes various diseases. Thus, for our well being washing hands is recommended just before consuming meals. Legs should also be washed. Though most of us do not do that and are ignorant with the knowledge that how helpful it is for our digestion. We avoid washing our legs as we think it is totally unnecessary since this part is no way going to come in contact with food. However, a few decades back it was a compulsion or tradition to thoroughly wash hands as well as legs before consuming food. Reason behind washing legs is, it increases efficiency of working of digestive system. Our digestive system will work more efficiently. Even acupressure technique has proved that there are hundreds of acupressure points on our palms and feet. These when pressed for certain duration increases working efficiency of different parts or different organs of our body.
For us traditional practices are rituals and thus we disobey to practice them as the real meaning behind performing them is not known and thus not told to us. Each and every tradition that was been started had purpose beneath it. Similarly all the practices that were carried out related to food were just not rituals but had meaning in them. Scientific research been done proves their importance. Whenever a traditional practice been asked for us to perform, we have to ask for its importance and when importance is known, we should with both hands embrace it and follow it to reap its benefits. All the rituals our elders performed related to food have a purpose beneath them. We need to understand them and try to follow them for our healthy well being.
9 years ago
Babu saroj created new article Rivers and lakes are always interesting and commercially important to people who live near them..
River and lakes are almost as old as civilization itself. The roads and Rails are, admittedly, a much later phase. Even in the prehistoric days the waters formed the prime routes. Naturally commerce art and culture and even raids or invasions were largely dependent on it.
Venice is a city of lakes even today. In Europe the rivers Peo, Rhine, Seine and the Adriatic Sea; and in Egypt the river Nile were the chief sources that imported and exchanged the various cultures. They contributed largely to the Mediterranean culture. In India the Gangetic and the Indus valley civilization are riparian.
The cargo boats in the Ganges ply trade materials like the bamboos and logs of woods. In Myanmar (Burma) and Yangon (Rangoon) the timber trade is a regular feature of the commercial use of the rivers. When road traffic gluts in big cities the authorities take recourse to the rivers. To cite, in Kolkata the Ganges now lends large-scale relief to the town administrators, and boat ferry has made the movements of commuters and others much easier as well as healthier. Again the rivers provide and have provided a never-ending source of enjoyment, fun and games. The Dhakuria Lake (Kolkata) becomes seasonally a site for delectable rowing by the member of the Kolkata Rowing club. The river Thames that skirts many towns and cities in England become alive often with rowing boats. This is Needless to mention that this event is centuries old in England.
These days there are also adventurous feats for ambitious youths in which the river plays a significant role. Rafting is one of them which make people feel awesome when they are in river. Many young boys and girls jump into the fray regardless of the hazards of the game. It involves a pluck and courage to dare the turbulent current of the river. It usually takes place in the upper reaches of the Ganges. Sometimes people very rarely, one is lost in a vortex. But the joy is in the adventure itself, a fit enterprise for the youth.
Thus the rivers are the natural outlets of the stored energy of young men, whereas the lakes are artificial ones. Such amusements and exercises are avowedly healthy ones and the phenomenon is steadily gaining ground.
There are some places in North Bihar and Bangladesh or Assam which have intricate river network. Although today we have improved modes of river commutations, in more primitive days the men there had to depend more on indigenous means. The children of these localities always showed greater pluck and courage in negotiating watery tracts. It is interesting to read the stories of their lives. They lived to plunge into the river day in and day out and very seldom suffered from cough and cold. In the rainy season they shifted to safer and higher regions loading their belongings which they could salvage on wooden cots that served as boats. What struck terror in the hearts of town-dwellers, was for those lads interesting and play like.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article Book Review: American Writer Maddox Ford's Novel " The Good Soldier, Tale of Passion".
American English has a realm of its own and American literature is distinct from English literature. In India we sometimes are unable to distinguish between the two, but there are subtle differences in syntax, spelling and grammar. America has a rich literary heritage in English and has thrown up many prominent English writers. Many of them have won the Nobel Prize in literature. Prominent are O Henry, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Harper Lee, Henry Miller and many others.
One of the American writers who left an indelible mark is Maddox Ford. He was born in 1873 and died in 1939. Maddox thus had a bird's eye view of the world and life at a time when the world was changing. His book that has been of great interest to me is " A Good Soldier: Tale of Passion". Maddox wrote the book in 1915 and now we are aware, that it is considered great literature. In 1988, the book was ranked 30th in the all time list of 100 greatest books of the 20th century by the Modern Library. Many critics rate this novel as a book from the top-drawer of books of the last century.
When the book was published the First World War had the attention of the world and that was the reason that the title of the book incorporated the word 'soldier'. The book is a tortuous tale of love and betrayal. I have a feeling that much of the book was inspired by his personal life and experience in love and sex. These are the two ingredients that touch the emotional chord of most people. What greater pleasure than to read a book that perhaps has the personal experience of the author.
The novel's scenario is the onset of WW I, when war clouds were hovering over the world, with the German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm wanting to assert the domination of Germany. The novel is the tale of a soldier named Edward Ashburnham. Along with this character, Ford creates two other characters, who are friends of Edward. Basically the novel delineates the sexual life of 2 couples, with the inherent contradictions of such a relationship.
The style of the novel is in my views a bit tedious as Ford relates the story through a third person named John Dowell, who becomes the narrator. The novel is in 4 parts and each part integrates into the other through flashbacks. It is a difficult style and readers will have to get used to it, but once one gets into the spirit, the novel is simply superb.
The story concerns the two couples who have gone for a health cure to a German town. There are mutual attractions and in the first part wife of one of the characters commits suicide as she feels betrayed by her lover. The novel moves further and Edward continues living with his wife, but has many sexual affairs. The most sordid of them is his infatuation for a young girl who is his ward. Her name is Nancy and Edward lusts for her. People who have been in love can easily relate to the love and infatuation of Edward for Nancy and his carnal knowledge of her body. As he makes ferocious love to Nancy who is half his age, he is consumed by an inner flame. This has a flip side and ends with John Dowell relating that Edward commits suicide.
The poor girl Nancy tormented by the goings on becomes mad. Its a macabre tale and rivets the attention of the reader. The Good Soldier is about the basic trait of human relationship, namely sex, lust and love, which are all interlinked. I suspect that most of the novel has incidents from the personal life of Ford Maddox.
Maddox was friends with 2 iconic writers namely Ernest Hemingway and Thomas hardy, who have their own place in English literature. But he was hurt as both the writers never mentioned about him in their works. Hemingway added a small line in one of his books.
The book is a top drawer novel from America. Maddox has 3 other famous books to his name. They are Parade's end,The Fifth Queen and Romance. The last novel Romance was in collaboration with Thomas Hardy.
Maddox spent the final years of his life at Oliver College where he taught English. Later he visited France in 1939 and died at Deauville. By today's standards he died young, as he was only 65. However I will recommend all readers of this article to read the novel, which is a great piece of American literature.
9 years ago